Ups And Downs 6

Ups And Downs 6 is a signed screen print in colours on Saunders Waterford High White paper made by the adventurous American artist and designer, KAWS. The print shows a bizarre composition of shapes from a close-up angle. Seen alongside the other prints in the Ups And Downs collection, it is apparent that the print is showing a section of a cartoon character’s face or body. A giant blue eye can be seen, with a dark blue cross covering the pupil, a signature feature of KAWS’ visual language. An orange tongue is also visible, but it does not appear to be attached to a mouth or set of teeth. The image has an abstract feel to it due to the bright colours, isolated body parts and unconventional angles incorporated into the composition.

The print is one of ten silkscreen prints that belong to KAWS’ Ups And Downs collection, produced in 2013 to mark the opening of his exhibition of the same name at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas. The collection captures KAWS’ unique artistic style which was deeply influenced by graffiti, street art and animation.

KAWS’ interest in animation can be traced back to his time studying illustration at the New York School of Visual Arts in the 1990s, as well as his early career, working as a freelance animator for Jumbo Pictures.