For a year or so I have known Jean-Michel Basquiat by name, and by a print-out of one of his painting's (see below). It hung on my best friend's wall in his Harlem apartment, and I never thought much about it, until...
Two weeks ago I was at my school's library, flipping through the DVD catalogue, when I came across Julian Schnabel's film, Basquiat, and decided to rent it. His 1996 biopic of Jean-Michel Basquiat was extremely captivating. It walked the viewer through his life, including clips from his childhood, his life on the streets of New York, becoming rich and famous, his relationship with Andy Warhol, his drug addiction, up until his premature death in 1988, at the age of 27. This film was so enthralling that I watched it twice within one day. Anyone that has anything to do with art, must see this movie. Watch the trailer, here.
After watching Basquiat I felt the need to know more about him. I went back to my library and took out King For A Decade: Jean-Michel Basquiat and 30 Americans, which is a book of a current exhibition of masterpieces of contemporary African-American art by the Rubell Family Collection. Basquiat's work is featured along with some other favourites of mine, Glenn Ligon, Wangechi Mutu, Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, among many other wonderful, and thought-provoking artists. The exhibit is on view in Norfolk, Virginia until July 15 at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
One of the most interesting things about Basquiat was how badly he wanted to be famous; how he went from a point in his life where he looked for money on the floors of nightclubs, to having so much money that he did not know what to do with it. Richard Marshall stated "Jean-Michel Basquiat first became famous for his art. And then he became famous for being famous. And then he became famous for being infamous." Another factor as to why Basquiat is so brilliant is the way in which he situated himself into the white dominated art scene of New York in the 80s, how he did not want to be referred to as a "black artist", and the ways in which he subtly or not-so-subtly incorporated black historical subject matter into his paintings and drawings.
Today I watched Tamra Davis' Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, which was great because it was comprised of a hour + long interview with Basquiat alongside interviews of his friends and his art dealers. Watch the trailer, here. Tomorrow I am going to buy Phoebe Hoban's novel, Basquiat: A Quick Killing In Art, to learn more about the genius that was Jean-Michel Basquiat. Not only was his way of thinking and applying it onto a canvas brilliant, but his looks went along with it, he was truly stunning. I think it is safe to say, I'm in love with a dead man.
- Night Rider
