KAWS's 37-meter floating Companion sculpture in Hong Kong removed early due to weather

A 37-meter inflatable sculpture by KAWS (Brian Donnelly), titled KAWS: HOLIDAY, was installed in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on March 22, 2019, as part of Hong Kong Arts Month leading up to Art Basel Hong Kong (March 29-31). The sculpture depicts Companion, the artist's cartoon-like character, floating placidly on the water. It was previously exhibited in Taipei and Seoul's Seokchon Lake. Due to forecasted heavy rain and potential hazards to maritime traffic, the installation was dismantled two days early on March 29, instead of March 31. The work was organized by Chinese creative studio AllRightsReserved (ARR). Lam Shu-kam, creative director of ARR, announced the early removal on social media, citing safety concerns. The sculpture was towed to a shipyard in Tsing Yi for storage, awaiting its next destination. Thousands of fans and visitors gathered at Tamar Park to view the piece. KAWS expressed gratitude on Instagram, noting the public's willingness to queue for his public sculpture.