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An Ode to Basquiat
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When we talk about the great artists we tend to focus of Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Picasso, Warhol or Michelangelo. If you google ‘great artists’ these are the names that appear, alongside with many others. It’s fascinating. They were all very talented and produced pieces of art that have influenced the society in which we live, so I cannot discredit them as great artists and do not intend to.
However, I was slightly disappointed that my personal favourite artist, the late great, Jean-Michel Basquiat was not on the lists. Now I don’t really care other people’s opinions and lists, but I think it’s a shame we don’t talk enough about one of the greatest artists that ever lived and his impact on the world, but especially within the black community and black culture.
Who was Jean-Michel Basquiat?
Google will let you know his life story in chronological order, from his birth to his untimely death.
It will map out the rise of a stubborn but vibrant artist who began his performance on the world stage through participating in graffiti art as half of the collaboration SAMO – meaning Same Old Shit – who would spray paint cryptic statements and symbols across buildings in lower Manhattan. The pair would eventually fall out and Basquiat use the back of that movement to give himself a boost in the art world of Manhattan.
Basquiat would be persistent in getting himself known and would sell his art on items such as postcards in order to make money. There was a determination within him to be recognised by those in the industry of high art. through his perseverance he struck up friendships with the likes of Andy Warhol and would work at building himself up and making his art recognised by the Manhattan art world.
He is typically described in documentaries and pieces as a rebel with a cause. An artist who consistently made art wherever he could even if it was at the annoyance of others. An unmanufactured artist who brought together street art and high art as a result of his rise and prominence in the art scene at that time.
But above all he is depicted as a man who refused to be ignored.
The art
The man was his art and his art was fragments of him, his artistic style through the application of skulls, sinews and guts was unique and displayed the ‘power and vulnerability of marginalised bodies’ (Saggese, 2019) within his art and he often made bold statements about the environment that these bodies were subjected to.
It’s clear that his works were a calculated improv and that he drew inspiration from his surroundings. When asked about where he drew inspiration from, he once said “I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.” In his own words he describes that his process was taking in life and it’s clear that he created an imaginative visual language that is the result of repurposing experiences and art history.
His works appears as childlike creative canvases at first glance and with deeper inspection, one can see that his art explored ideas of identity and oppression, therefore, it was meant to shock, inspire and get under the skin, which is the power we want art hold. With Basquiat I feel that his art has had influence within other avenues such as poetry, film and fashion, but most importantly I feel like it has had an impact of music.
Art and culture
The hip-hop movement was vital for black people in terms of calling out institutional racism and sharing their experiences and thoughts on racism within America. It was one of the first movements where black people were the gatekeepers to their own stories and Basquiat was involved in the movement through his emergence as an artist – particularly a graffiti artist – by having such a platform within the pop culture world.
Constantly referenced within the world of hip hop by artists such as Jay-Z, Nas, Swizz Beatz and more, it can be said that Basquiat is hip-hop’s favourite artist. His raw artistic talent is used to illustrate those of the hip-hop artists themselves, their process in creating their art and also the influence they hope they have over their audiences.
The messages of his art mirror the hip-hop movement and its anti-establishment stance. He is an artist that resonates with most hip-hop stars because like them he has a story that is not manufactured and came from humble beginnings.
His journey within the artistic community is one that can be likened to the rise of hip-hop stars before hip-hop became popular culture. Due to this notion and his artistic social commentary, many stars in hip-hop have paid homage to his work via referencing him or sampling his art within their creative works and even branding themselves or their belongings with his image.
His artistic style resonates with the imagery typically associated with the music genre – that of bold graffiti style out that makes statements about the power struggle of the black body within society and the systematic racism endured by those of colour.
Basquait’s currency within music is not one that began after his death, but one that he lived through partially. He was active within other scenes and frequently networked. His involvement within music was hands on as he produced K-Rob and Rammellzee’s track and created the album art for them in 1983.
The crown motif was something that Basquiat adopted in his art and to some it can be seen as that he was claiming to be king of the streets with regard to art. What makes the motif so impactful was that it is so simple but something that can be easily recognised and is a symbol that is used when one wants to make a statement about power. We see often in his works that he deals with power struggles, systematic racism and oppression and ideas about the establishment.
Once again linking this to the genre, there is a use of his style of the crown within hip-hop inspired clothing and album covers/art, therefore, showcasing the significance of his art for it.
The art and society
Basquiat’s work is mysterious, often so chaotic that one does not know how to interpret, but like all good art it evokes emotions and feelings that are inescapable. The shock in some pieces, the curiosity in some arrangements, the vividness in some imagery or the colour of each brushstroke says something.
It may not be a unanimous statement, but his work is truly one of a kind and inspires something raw within creatives. His work still has an edge that can’t be replicated. The visual expression is second to none. A wild imagination let loose on a canvas with a mind expressing the realities of the world he inhabits.
He reflected the black experience in an unusual way – incorporating the struggle of the black man and woman within his art, whether it was through questioning industries through Hollywood Africans or challenging systematic racism like he does in Irony of Negro Policeman.
A brief analysis(Irony of Negro Policeman)
Questioning the purpose of black policemen in a society where the police was known (and still is known) for police brutality against the black folks. Adding language to the imagery witht the use of ‘pawn’ to reflect his feelings towards the black policeman and his place within society. He purposefully creates a distortion and discomfort to make his message clear.
Legacy
I have only touched upon a little bit of the legacy that Basquiat left behind. It is clear from his story that Basquiat invited himself into a space where he typically would not have been welcomed.
He brought forward graffiti style art and monetised it in a way that the high art world and masses could not ignore. His unique, distinguishable style was one that was attention grabbing and filled with colour and radiance.
His art said so many things, whether he was addressing the past, the future or the present, he did so in a manner that could reflect the urban landscape, the black reality and essentially what was within his soul.
It is unfortunate heroin would be the end of him. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. But this king should live forever. Long live Jean-Michel Basquiat, the first artist I ever loved and made me really appreciate art. Thank you for changing the game.