KAWS:HOLIDAY Giant Inflatable Exhibit in Singapore Halted After Court Order

The exhibition of giant inflatable KAWS:HOLIDAY artwork at The Float @ Marina Bay has been ordered to stop following a court order over the organizer’s breach of intellectual property and confidentiality.

Singapore-based non-profit organization The Ryan Foundation (TRF) obtained the interim injunction, accusing the event’s organizer, Hong Kong creative agency AllRightsReserved Limited (ARR), of violating intellectual property rights and misusing confidential information. ARR called the allegations “groundless,” saying it is in the process of seeking legal advice.

According to news reports, TRF was in talks with ARR to bring KAWS:HOLIDAY in Singapore in 2019, but such discussions failed to materialize.

The court order was served in the afternoon of Nov. 13, the same day that the exhibition was supposed to become available to VIPs before its official public opening from Nov. 14-21. Aside from halting the display, the injunction also suspended the sale and distribution of merchandise items, as well as publicity and advertisement related to the event.

KAWS:HOLIDAY featured the 42-metre-long giant inflatable sculpture of COMPANION by American artist Brian Donnelly, who goes by the alias “KAWS.”

Prior to its now-suspended stop in Singapore, KAWS:HOLIDAY was seen in Hong Kong, Japan, Taipei, the United Kingdom, and Seoul as part of a global tour.