KAWS Unveils 32-Meter Companion Lifting a Glowing Moon on Abu Dhabi’s Waterfront

KAWS Lights Up Abu Dhabi with a Monumental Moonlit Companion

A new chapter in the global KAWS:HOLIDAY series has arrived, and this time the artist’s iconic Companion stretches 32 meters across the waterfront of Mina Zayed. Instead of floating or standing, the figure reclines gently at the edge of the promenade, holding a glowing moon to its chest. The installation, created with long-time collaborator. All Rights Reserved, forms the centerpiece of Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, a citywide exhibition dedicated to light as material, memory, and guide.

On view until January 4th, 2026, KAWS Abu Dhabi connects the artist’s recognizable visual language with the cultural and maritime history of the Gulf — where light from the moon once guided traditional dhows across shifting tides.

A Moonlit Guide Along the Water’s Edge

Against the illuminated skyline and reflecting Gulf waters, the reclining Companion reads as both monumental and unexpectedly intimate. Its arms curl around a radiant moon, echoing the way seafarers once navigated using constellations and moonlight. The installation transforms that memory into a sculptural lighthouse, scattering soft light across the harbor and creating a glowing path along Mina’s pier.

Visitors encounter the sculpture almost at eye level. Framed by palm trees and the long sweep of the waterfront, the Companion feels peaceful, nearly human in its posture, despite its overwhelming scale. Surrounding lights amplify the moon’s glow, casting a wide halo across the promenade.

Within Manar’s expansive network of installations — unfolding across Jubail Island, Al Ain’s UNESCO-listed oases, and coastal sites — Companion becomes a key visual marker binding the theme The Light Compass to Abu Dhabi’s relationship with orientation and horizon.

Light as Material, Memory, and Map

As the moon reflects onto the water and the water reflects back, the entire waterfront becomes part of the artwork. This exchange between object and environment reinforces Manar’s focus on light as both medium and metaphor: a tool for navigation, a record of time, and a lens for imagination.

The exhibition gathers a roster of international and regional artists, including Shaikha Al Mazrou, DRIFT, Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five), Pamela Tan, and Lachlan Turczan, each exploring how light can become volume, direction, or terrain.

At night, the luminous sphere appears almost within reach, nestled between Companion’s hands. Across the harbor, the city lights echo its glow, completing a visual dialogue that stretches from the water to the skyline.

In KAWS Abu Dhabi, light becomes both anchor and compass, transforming the waterfront into a shifting, moonlit map.

Written by Otávio Santiago, a designer shaping narratives through motion, graphics, and 3D form. His approach merges emotion and precision to craft timeless visual identities and experiences.