Missing 2017

Kaws made this 'Missing' sometime around now, and it's all about taking familiar cartoon shapes and pushing them to abstraction. The way he handles paint is so slick, almost like vinyl, but it's a painting! What grabs me is how Kaws uses these bright, flat colors, contained by such graphic outlines. I am thinking about that little purple blob, that's floating near the bottom right. It's like a rogue element, defying the otherwise neat and clean composition. It gives the painting a kind of wobbly, off-kilter energy. Kaws is doing something similar to what Yoshitomo Nara did with his big-headed kids – taking something cute and twisting it just enough to make you feel uneasy. Is it a painting or a product? Does it even matter? The best art always keeps you guessing.