Tension 7
Tension 7
Signed Print
KAWS
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Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 100
Year: 2019
Size: H 89cm x W 58cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Rago | United States | |||
| February 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Tension 7 is a signed screen print on Saunders Waterford paper made by the critically acclaimed American artist and designer, KAWS in 2019. The print shows an abstract composition of colourful shapes which resonate with graffiti designs and street art. A large cross stretches outwards from the left side of the print. Crosses are a repeated visual motif that KAWS frequently incorporates into his artworks. Often, the artist will use crosses to replace the eyes of the cartoon characters he draws. In other works, like Tension 7, KAWS, simply uses the shape and incorporates it into his graphic designs.
The print is part of the Tension collection, a series of ten screen prints all of which depict dynamic and exciting graffiti inspired compositions. KAWS was heavily involved with the graffiti and street culture scene in New York in the 1990s and often took to the streets, armed with a spray can to hone his draughtsmanship.
KAWS’ artistic origins in graffiti have led him to be compared to Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, two leading 20th century artists who emerged from the New York City graffiti subculture of the 1980s. Now, the artist is regarded as a leading 21st century artist who will no doubt inspire future generations of artists, as Haring and Basquiat did for him.
American-born artist, KAWS, is renowned for his cartoon figures, prints and 'subvertisements'. Born in 1974 to the burgeoning New York graffiti and street art scene, KAWS has successfully combined fine art and pop culture to create his own lane in the urban art world. His distinct aesthetic, characterised by playful figures and a subversive take on pop culture icons, has earned him acclaim in both the art and mainstream realms. Most notable is his Companion figure which has achieved global critical and commercial success, and has formed collaborations with the likes of Nike and Dior Homme.
