Photo: Craig Cutler
The Brooklyn-based artist KAWS is reimagining the iconic MTV Moonman trophy for the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards taking place on 25 August in Brooklyn, New York.
KAWS's influence will be seen during the whole of the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, including the design for the set as well as the logo. Musicians who win a 2013 MTV Video Music Award will also take home a special edition KAWS Moonman this year which was created exclusively for this year's awards show.
The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards will also be shown a day later on MTV Base (DStv 322) on Tuesday 27 August at 16:00.
"Creative experimentation and reinvention are in MTV's DNA," says Stephen Friedman, the president of MTV in a statement. "We have a history of partnering with groundbreaking artists - from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Andy Warhol - to bring inventive, thought-provoking works directly to our audience."
"KAWS is the perfect partner to continue this legacy and his redesigned Moonman is the perfect centerpiece for music's most irreverent award show."
"I grew up watching MTV and the Video Music Awards, so I was excited to interject my work into this world," says KAWS. "It's a true honour to be able to reimagine such an iconic symbol in music and pop culture, especially since the show is taking place in Brooklyn. I'm looking forward to seeing KAWS Moonmen take over the 2013 VMAs."
The MTV Moonman's core remains in terms of the Moonman's iconic image, but is getting contextualised with KAWS' signature inflated skull and crossbones.
