Critical Review
100% Cashmere Blanket (blue) is a superfine cashmere that was made by the internationally acclaimed American artist and designer, KAWS in 2019. The cashmere comes in an edition size of 85 and depicts a blue puddle of water against a plain, pale backdrop. Two Mickey Mouse style hands, that appear to belong to a drowning body, can be seen in the water. KAWS adds ripple lines to the puddle and splashes of water around the hands to suggest movement and imbue the image with a sense of dynamism.
This piece can be seen as part of the Companion collection, a body of artworks produced by KAWS that are all dedicated to representing the beloved cartoon character, Companion, that KAWS created in 1999. This print, which also comes in a red version, 100% Cashmere Blanket (red), differs from the other works in the collection which depict Companion in a more conventional way, using the screen printing technique to produce prints that show the character’s full body.
Companion is characterised by his distinct shape, which is reminiscent of Mickey Mouse, his skull and crossbone head and crossed out eyes. In 100% Cashmere Blanket (blue), the viewer can only see two hands, yet the gloves with crosses on them are a suggestive feature that implies they belong to Companion. 100% Cashmere Blanket (blue) was produced later in KAWS’ artistic career, once the artist already had a strong, global following. KAWS’ choice not to depict Companion in full reflects how the character has become a recognisable icon over the past two decades.
