Page 317 - YGARTUA : The Work Of A Genius

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT But within the span of six years and a deeply intimate albeit
turbulent friendship, the mutual respect and admiration that

Jean-Michel Basquiat first attracted attention for his graffiti under Basquiat and Warhol shared for one another inspired two
the name “SAMO” in New York City. The neo-expressionist painter, separately iconic bodies of work, which become eternally

of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent died in New York on August 12, emblazoned within the highest echelons of fine art.
1988 of a heroin overdose. In his multicultural home, the artist grew “A World in Turmoil - It is times like this that you want to

up speaking Spanish, French, and English. make a statement through your art. Reflecting upon the
It was his graffiti tag “SAMO”(shorthand for the “same old shit”) that current political and social upheaval and the racial injustice

first drew public attention. Basquiat created SAMO with his friend that continues to be the curse on humanity. Basquiat
Al Diaz while the pair were in high school and the tag which often was the first Graffiti artist that made me appreciate this

featured the copyright symbol, cropped up on buildings throughout chosen artistic expression to convey political unrest and
lower Manhattan and Brooklyn between 1977 and 1980. disagreement. It was sheer naivety, raw and bold, primal
Warhol and Basquiat were an unlikely pair; two aesthetic pioneers and basic, pertinent to attracting my attention in such a

from different generations, two iconic creative minds of an era, short life he achieved so much; it was his chosen discipline,
and two good friends. They would forge one of the most important his art, to express his criticism of colonialism and racism

relationships within the history of contemporary art. Warhol, founding pertaining to African Americans; he portrayed his sincerity,
Father of Pop Art, and his much younger Neo-Expressionist protege his personal grievances, with a powerful message that still

Basquiat emerged from different generations and backgrounds. permeates our society today.”

A TRIBUTE TO JEAN-MICHAEL BASQUIAN, 2022 ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 90X48 IN. | 228.6X122 CM.

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