I’ve Never Liked Basquiat
You read that right, I’ve never like Basquiat, despite him being all the cool kids favorite painter.
Contrary to popular belief, the abstract portraits of dark creatures with monstrous faces and random numbers never filled my sprightly spirit. The infamous crown had never seemed to fit my pallet of art.
All of these statements 100% facts until I visited the most recent Basquiat pop-up in New York’s posh, Chelsea neighborhood at the Starrett Leigh building.
“Jean- Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure”, humanizes the work of the world renowned artist in a way that major art institutions fail to do. The intimacy of the space and curatorial intent connects us to the man, not just the art. We are able to feel how he both processed and reimagined the world in which he lived by understanding who HE -the human- Jean was.
Lisane and Jeanine Basquiat, the younger sisters of Jean- Michel, curators of King Pleasure and the sole proprietors of the Basquiat estate, make real the similarities of their family to my own. Partnering with dope architectural designer, Sir David Adjaye, (this is the same man who designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C.) they combine curatorial strategies that invite us into the personhood of the renowned artist, helping us understand Jean- Michele the son, brother, friend then painter.
The juxtaposition of vintage home- video footage of a young joyful Jean and his family in Prospect Park with works like Andy Warhol’s 1982 silk portrait of Jean-Michele fills the gap of humanity that is missing from “high” art experiences.
There’s brilliant use of voice overs as soundscapes and videography that grant us access to first hand accounts from the sisters. We get to know and love little Jean, the prankster, and his influence in devious childhood fun that made colorful the pallet of their childhood.
Through the use of period rooms viewers are turned participants, becoming guests in the family’s home. We experience family photos on the walls, the dark brown and taupe gold brick thermostat on the striped wallpapered living room and even get a sense of the music that would play on Saturday mornings, reminding us of our own family’s “cleaning” playlist. You even have the option of taking the music that influenced Jean home with you by downloading the playlist right there through a Spotify code!
The intentional transportation into the personhood of Jean-Michel, “Jean Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure” makes visible the human connection that exists between Jean-Michele and his awed followers.
This intention is carried into the wall text of the exhibition. There’s a deviation from the journalistic and academic styles that most curators lean into. Lisane and Jeanine use a more conversational tone that invites the voice of his sisters back into the space and at this point with the voice overs and videos it’s like you hear their voices reading to you!
Through gallery hangs we experience the larger portfolio of Jean- Michele before heading into his studios where we are teleported to the man most of us (think we) know. The one who decided to share his inner thoughts with us through portraiture.
Unlike most Basquiat exhibits we are intentionally ushered into the consciousness of his work and have a personal narrative to understand the numbers and dark creatures that appear. We are able to relate to the monstrosity of societal institutions that are depicted in his work and we are able to consciously see this!
By the end of King pleasure I needed more, from the jazz influenced title, to the varied melodies carried from Basquiat’s paintings into the beautifully designed space, the soul tie between music, art and humanity is deeply felt. This exhibition proves that “high art” can be personable it can ignite change and connect to human experiences if curated with intention.
I have had a change of heart I am in love with Basquiat! Sign me up for the cool kids club and let’s have a conversation about the ways we make connection visible!
-Bre’Lynn Jade
