Painting the Head: A Narrative Journey Into Basquiat's Universe
Introduction
The 1980s reinvented backcombed hair and shoulder pads and brought us the death of John Lennon, the launch of MTV, and Michael Jackson's Thriller. New York, a city which has always been a melting pot of diverse cultures and nations, was bustling with young artists at the time. Amidst them, Jean-Michel Basquiat made his appearance on the art scene. Basquiat was a multi-cultural artist of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent. After his first exhibition in the early 1980s, he was immediately recognized as a new spirit who had survived the tail end of modernism and was revolutionizing art. (Mayer 42) Many of his artworks epitomize the strong sense of music and dynamism of 1980s New York. Basquiat is still greatly admired for his spontaneous use of line and bold use of colour. Perhaps it is because of its rich, layered complexity that his art continues to astound viewers, as they try to interpret and decipher the cryptic messages embedded within it.
One of the most prominent works of Basquiat's career is the 1981Untitled (Head), which first presents what would become a key recurring motif in his iconography. The media immediately appreciated Basquiat's innovative style: “With its public presentation, this painting declared Basquiat’s arrival as a new and authentic voice in the world of contemporary art” (Hoffman 130). It continues to be a crucial work when analyzing his entire oeuvre. Richard Marshall said of this early period: “Basquiat used painterly gestures on canvases, most often depicting skeletal figures and mask-like faces” (qtd. in Buchhart X). Indeed, this painting depicts a solitary shape, caught somewhere between a head and a skull. Many art historians, art critics, and art lovers are mesmerized by this one piece. But what is it that makes this painting so powerful and enigmatic? Why is it so characteristic of Basquiat?
In January 2011, the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris held a retrospective of Basquiat's work. During my visit to the museum, I was
The 1980s reinvented backcombed hair and shoulder pads and brought us the death of John Lennon, the launch of MTV, and Michael Jackson's Thriller. New York, a city which has always been a melting pot of diverse cultures and nations, was bustling with young artists at the time. Amidst them, Jean-Michel Basquiat made his appearance on the art scene. Basquiat was a multi-cultural artist of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent. After his first exhibition in the early 1980s, he was immediately recognized as a new spirit who had survived the tail end of modernism and was revolutionizing art. (Mayer 42) Many of his artworks epitomize the strong sense of music and dynamism of 1980s New York. Basquiat is still greatly admired for his spontaneous use of line and bold use of colour. Perhaps it is because of its rich, layered complexity that his art continues to astound viewers, as they try to interpret and decipher the cryptic messages embedded within it.
One of the most prominent works of Basquiat's career is the 1981Untitled (Head), which first presents what would become a key recurring motif in his iconography. The media immediately appreciated Basquiat's innovative style: “With its public presentation, this painting declared Basquiat’s arrival as a new and authentic voice in the world of contemporary art” (Hoffman 130). It continues to be a crucial work when analyzing his entire oeuvre. Richard Marshall said of this early period: “Basquiat used painterly gestures on canvases, most often depicting skeletal figures and mask-like faces” (qtd. in Buchhart X). Indeed, this painting depicts a solitary shape, caught somewhere between a head and a skull. Many art historians, art critics, and art lovers are mesmerized by this one piece. But what is it that makes this painting so powerful and enigmatic? Why is it so characteristic of Basquiat?
In January 2011, the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris held a retrospective of Basquiat's work. During my visit to the museum, I was