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HOT: KAWS, NGV International, Melbourne

National Gallery of Victoria’s latest exhibitions KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness and KAWS: PLAYTIME are loads of fun!

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Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, is one of the most well-known contemporary artists of his generation.

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The NGV’s ground floor galleries showcase all of the different mediums in which he works – paintings, murals, large-scale sculptures, street and public art, fashion, graphic and product design.

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Families will be sure to enjoy the paid main exhibition and the accompanying free children’s gallery space.

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KAWS’ work is colourful, humorous and combines popular cultural references with his unique motifs.

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Kids will be able to spot cartoon characters such as SpongeBob Squarepants, The Smurfs and Snoopy…

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….while adults will recognise many of the advertising posters…

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…and instantly be able to match The Beatles’ cover art of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club with KAWS’ $21 million version featuring ‘The Kimpsons’.

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We most enjoy wandering through the larger-than-life sculptures at the end of main exhibition before it leads into a pop up NGV Design Store selling KAWS paraphernalia. There’s no children’s exhibition publication this time, sadly.

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KAWS: PLAYTIME is a further experience that welcomes kids and families into KAWS’ world through play.

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The space stars KAWS’s friendly character BFF.

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You’ll find his blue fur and eyes on the tactile walls, the floor and the furniture….

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…..his features in the interactive photobooth where you can create a video portrait to share online…..

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….his image on the lovely pop up cards and in the special set of alphabet stickers drawn by KAWS….

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….and then you can even draw a friend for BFF!

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Young gallery visitors are invited to nestle into cosy nooks, explore and play.

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KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness and KAWS: PLAYTIME introduces audiences to the full range of KAWS’ art, including a specially commissioned giant bronze sculpture in the Federation Court and his collaborations with brands such as Uniqlo that you can find in the NGV Design Store.

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Click here for the 100 best things to do in Melbourne with kids

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About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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