GOOD INTENTIONS

Art Gallery of Ontario

GOOD INTENTIONS 2015 bronze and paint Collection of the Madison Group, Courtesy Corkin Gallery GOOD INTENTIONS is a sculpture, presenting two identical figures which stand closely side by side on a low riser against the wall. The one on the right stands at 7 feet tall.The one on the left is smaller reaching the right figure’s waist and hides, childlike, behind it’s leg. They are various shades of matte grey and white. The features and style of these figures are those of a character which KAWS has dubbed quote “COMPANION” . With its white cartoonish gloves, oversized shoes, and large-buttoned shorts, it bears an intentional resemblance to Walt Disney Studios mascot Mickey Mouse. The notable exception is the mouse head, which in the “COMPANION” character is replaced with a white “soft skull” and grey crossbones with black X’s for eyes. The figures are smooth with slightly rotund torsos and perfectly round legs. They wear brownish grey shorts with two palm sized circles in the front like buttons where suspenders might attach. Their short gloves have a bulge at the cuff, and their hands have three fingers and a thumb. They wear smooth rounded shoes that bulge above the ankle. The taller figure on the right stands with its right foot slightly forward. From behind, the smaller figure holds onto the taller figure’s right leg , threading its hand between the taller figure’s legs and leaning in as a child might do. The taller figure twists to hold its right hand behind the smaller figure’s head, shielding it or pulling it close in what could be perceived as a protective gesture. These two figures in KAWS’s “COMPANION” character style, share signature traits with other characters in the KAWS Family: Letter X’s etched into their heads instead of eyes and the same X motif on the backs of their gloves and tops of their shoes. Their large heads are in the style of a cartoon skull with two divots for nostrils and knobby “crossbone” protrusions on the sides of their heads. At the bottom of their heads they have 4 rounded bumps with teeth-like gaps. In the room around them KAWS‘s “Kimpsons” characters are displayed. These are liberal appropriations of characters from the popular long running tv show The Simpsons which are instantly recognizable. The Kimpsons have X’s for eyes and other traits KAWS has created that make up his signature style.