KAWS has unveiled a monumental new public-art installation in Abu Dhabi, a 32-meter-long Companion figure reclining along the Mina Zayed waterfront, cradling a luminous full moon in its hands. Titled KAWS: HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi, the work marks a highlight of Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, the citywide light-art exhibition curated by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
A Moonlit Centerpiece on Abu Dhabi’s Waterfront
Unlike some of KAWS’s other large-scale public works that float, the Abu Dhabi Companion settles directly on the edge of the pier, as if pausing in a moment of quiet reflection. The massive figure is gently illuminated from within, and the glowing moon it holds becomes the emotional and visual center of the installation, casting its soft light across the harbor.
The gesture of the Companion holding the moon is deeply resonant in the context of the Gulf’s maritime history. Before GPS, sailors on traditional dhows (long, wooden sailing vessels used for trade and fishing) used constellations and moonlight to navigate, a practice that tied their journeys to the sky. By placing a glowing moon in the hands of this iconic figure, KAWS transforms that memory into a luminous modern landmark and a sort of “visual guide.”
What makes this work especially powerful is how it uses light not just for effect but as its very material. The water reflects the moon’s glow, turning the harbor into a living part of the artwork. In the context of Manar Abu Dhabi, which features 22 site-specific works from Emirati and international artists under the theme “The Light Compass,” KAWS’s piece functions as a luminous marker, a wayfinding point that links the exhibition to the region’s cultural heritage.
Among the other artists participating in Manar Abu Dhabi are Shaikha Al Mazrou, DRIFT, Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five), Pamela Tan, and Lachlan Turczan, all exploring light in deeply imaginative ways.
This installation is part of the second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, and it’s one of the most prominent works in the exhibition. The exhibition’s artistic director, Khai Hori, has spoken about how the theme of light relates to historical practices of navigation and astronomy in the region, making KAWS’s glowing Companion a fitting centerpiece.
The sculpture runs from November 15, 2025, to January 4, 2026, and is freely viewable by the public.
The sheer scale of the 32-meter figure and the warm glow of the moon make the work impossible to miss along the waterfront. The Companion’s calm, curled pose invites viewers to pause and reflect, giving the monumental sculpture a surprising sense of intimacy.
KAWS: HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi becomes a quiet moment of stillness, a reminder that art can guide us in more ways than one.
Photo courtesy of AllRightsReserved
