Bringing together culture and creativity, the collaboration with the artist KAWS reinforces Audemars Piguet’s curiosity and ongoing dialogue with the cultural world. Over the years, the brand has partnered with luminaries across disciplines, including art and pop culture, to nurture its creativity, shake up the status quo and reflect on the meaning of Haute Horlogerie in today’s world.
KAWS started out as a graffiti artist in New York City in the 1990s, making a name for himself by augmenting ads in phone booths and bus shelters. His early “ad intervention” work paved the way for his cast of characters, including COMPANION, which have served as experimental platforms to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of shape, material and size – a strong link to both Audemars Piguet’s free-spirited mindset and the groundbreaking nature of the Royal Oak Concept collection in particular.
KAWS’ COMPANION has travelled across media and the globe, from toy figures and large-scale sculptures to giant floating inflatables and AR versions. Evoking both life and death, the real and the fake, this cartoon-like character is at once endearing and disconcerting. Its inherent dichotomy challenges norms and expectations, while inviting its audience to be curious, get out of their comfort zone and look at the world differently. Today, this cultural phenomenon takes on unprecedented miniature proportions to explore the creative territory of fine watchmaking. Placed at the very heart of its eponymous Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon limited edition, this imaginary character both subverts and humanises Haute Horlogerie, pushing the limits of the craft.
KAWS started out as a graffiti artist in New York City in the 1990s, making a name for himself by augmenting ads in phone booths and bus shelters. His early “ad intervention” work paved the way for his cast of characters, including COMPANION, which have served as experimental platforms to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of shape, material and size – a strong link to both Audemars Piguet’s free-spirited mindset and the groundbreaking nature of the Royal Oak Concept collection in particular.
KAWS’ COMPANION has travelled across media and the globe, from toy figures and large-scale sculptures to giant floating inflatables and AR versions. Evoking both life and death, the real and the fake, this cartoon-like character is at once endearing and disconcerting. Its inherent dichotomy challenges norms and expectations, while inviting its audience to be curious, get out of their comfort zone and look at the world differently. Today, this cultural phenomenon takes on unprecedented miniature proportions to explore the creative territory of fine watchmaking. Placed at the very heart of its eponymous Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon limited edition, this imaginary character both subverts and humanises Haute Horlogerie, pushing the limits of the craft.
