KAWS SEEING (BLACK)

Hong Kong based ddtstore.com released "KAWS SEEING (Black)" for Lottery (since CLOSED, at time of this post publication) over the past weekend.

Sized 16 inches (406mm), this Alloy + LED light + mixed media-made piece was in a numbered and signed edition of 150pcs.

The item alone is not "new" (besides the colorway), as previous releases featured the PINK colorway (July 2020 Lottery), while a BLUE colorway dropped May 2018, limited to 250pcs, each priced at US$12,000 (excluding shipping).

Contrary to the release being in the midst of the (since resolved) KAWS HOLIDAY SINGAPORE legal situation, both the PINK and the current BLACK versions are similarly priced at HK$157,000 per (approx. US$20,162 / SG$27,280).

This is, and has been the state of collectibles pricing, beyond the limited runs we see on the daily basis - at least on TOYSREVIL - and dwells in the "art sculpture" price points of exclusivity, which not doubt appeals to more folks than we choose to acknowledge - from true blue collectors of pop-art and pop culture hype, to flippers (Disclaimer: it is beyond my mortal comprehension how a $20K item could be flipped, but) - both sides of the spectrum, which dictates the value of whatever items put on the pedestal, innit?

It's "interesting" to me - as I read comments on socials - that it felt obvious that in-between the PINK release and the current BLACK, there must have been new KAWS-collectors which came into the scene, unknown to the price, and I also wondered what had happened to the folks who secured the PINK versions back then - Are they still collecting? Collecting KAWS? I have no doubt there'll be folks able to place all THREE colorways side by side on their mantle :)

I'm not here to bust anyone's hustle, it is what it is, and I am nowhere near to even take a whiff, as much as I blog about it LOL

Winners of the lottery for KAWS SEEING (BLACK) will be notified on November 16th.