3 minute read
Issue 1: Art
ARTTo intrigue, to enlighten, to inspire.
ART IN REAL LIFE
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By: Krista NguyenJean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York. He is of Haitian and Puerto Ricandescent. He is an American artist apart of the Neo-Expressionism movement. Basquiat’s artwork styleconsists of graffiti, street art, and primitivism.
In Basquiat’s early life, his mother encouraged his craft. He learned how to draw and paint, showingremarkable talent. Together, with his mother, they attended museum exhibitions in New York City.Eventually, he became a Junior Member of the Brooklyn Museum at age six.
His art career kicked off with graffiti street art with his friend, Al Diaz. Basquiat went under the name,“SAMO” and presented their art on buildings in Manhattan. By 1980, he became a well-known artistand had his first exhibition within the same year.
Basquiat’s work typically addresses racial injustice within America and historical events, such as slavetrades. His influences include renowned artists: Pablo Picasso and Leonardo Da Vinci. He also drawsinfluence from punk and hip-hop.
Neo-Expressionism
The Neo-Expression movement appeared in the late 1970s to emerge from the formalism of Minimalismand Conceptual art. Common themes within this art movement consist of taboo or controversialsubjects involving psychology, nationalism, history, or culture.
The Broad📍 Los Angeles, California
Eyes and Eggs - 1983 - Acrylic, oilstick, and paper collage on cotton drop cloth with metal hinges - 119 x 97 in. Portrayed in the art piece is a cook holding a pan with sizzling eggs. He appears to have a skeletal-like head, glassy eyes, and gritted teeth. A blue outline is apparent in the cook’s hat and shirt. A splash of red adorns the egg yolks and heat waves. Basquiat himself also embossed the piece with sneaker marks.
Obnoxious Liberals - 1982
- Acrylic, oilstick, and spray paint on canvas
- 68 x 102 in
In this piece, Basquiat utilizes vivid colors, markings, and figures to convey his message. The figures represent capitalism and its victims. This is clear due to the dollar signs and the “Not For Sale” text on the figures. On the left side is a trapped, chained figure that represents the oppression of African Americans within white American culture. The top hat, a reference to Uncle Sam, on the middle figure and the cowboy hat on the right figure represent white American culture.
BANKSY-ED
By: Sol Jihn
Banksy is an anonymous vandal, political activist, and guerrilla street artist. He is best known for hissatirical themes and dark humor in his “hit and run” graffiti using handmade spray paint stencils.However, despite intense public scrutiny and fame, his identity still remains a mystery.
On October 5th, 2018, the 2006 version of Banksy’s painting Balloon Girl (or Girl with Balloon) was set up for auction with exactly 27 bidders held at Sotheby’s in London. As soon as the painting was auctioned to the winning bidder, the painting spontaneously self-destructed itself halfway to shreds as soon as it was sold for $1.3 million. It was later revealed that Banksy had intentionally installed a remote controlled self shredding device inside the picture frame 12 years ago. And while it was meant to be shredded completely, only half of the piece was destroyed.
Balloon Girl is a painting of a young girl painted in black and white extending her arm towards a red, heart shaped balloon blowing away in the wind. Its original painting has opened many interpretations, with its most popular analysis depicting a child’s unwavering optimism and hope for a seemingly unreachable goal. Since its original release in 2002, Balloon Girl has been used as a universal symbol to express Banksy’s support to a number of social campaigns. Campaigns include the West Bank Barrier in 2005, the Syrian refugee crisis in 2014, and the 2017 election in the United Kingdom.
When asked about the motive behind such a prank, Banksy simply quoted Pablo Picasso, that “the urgeto destroy is a creative urge”. This marks the first time in art history where a new work was createdduring an auction. Sotheby's now acknowledges that they were “Banksy-ed”.
The remainder of the work that had not been shredded shows only the heart shaped balloon. Theunshredded piece was officially retitled, called Love is in the Bin. Sotheby's comments that Love is inthe Bin is not a destroyed artwork, but rather an intentional and creative piece made by the artist.
