Exhibition Signage for Jean-Michel Basquiat Retrospective at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Exhibition dates: October 3 to January 14, 2019. Venue: Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris. The most grand and unmissable classic exhibition of the second half of 2018 in Paris is held at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, featuring two contrasting exhibitions: a special show on early 20th-century painter Egon Schiele (1890–1918) and a retrospective on late 20th-century artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988). Both are legendary and tragic representative painters who, like comets streaking across the deep night sky, shone with artistic brilliance before disappearing into the starry darkness at their prime (both died at age 28), leaving an extraordinary chapter in art history.

Basquiat is currently one of the hottest artists in the contemporary art market, consistently achieving record prices, and is also one of the most legendary figures, famous for his well-known street art. This "Retrospective" hosted by the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris is the most grand and unmissable classic exhibition of the Parisian art scene in the second half of 2018, and arguably the most complete, brilliant, and abundant artistic feast of Basquiat's work in recent years. It spans from his early graffiti "Untitled-Car Crash" (1980) to his final work "Death on Horseback" (1988), where Death receives him, foreseeing his impending demise. Including sketches, acrylics, oils, and mixed-media works of various sizes, over 120 pieces are displayed, nearly all his classic works, many of which are being shown publicly for the first time. The exhibition occupies most of the venue, from the basement to the fourth floor, arranged chronologically through unpublished works to create a rhythm of thematic comparison and main ensemble.

The exhibition opens with three representative "iconic head portraits," then proceeds through different street works, heroes and war, music, large-scale works, collaborations with Andy Warhol, and late works, ending with Basquiat's last symbolic piece, "Death on Horseback" (1988), a stunning work exhibited in Paris for the first time.

The Legendary Life of Jean-Michel Basquiat:

Basquiat (1960–1988) is the most legendary artist in contemporary art, boasting the loudest reputation among graffiti gangs. Along with Keith Haring, he was a star of New York wall graffiti, rising in the early 1980s in Manhattan's East Village and SoHo. He is currently one of the top artists in the auction market, repeatedly setting high prices. Like comets streaking across the deep night sky, both Shined with artistic brilliance before disappearing into the starry darkness at their prime (Basquiat at 28, Haring at 32). Born in Brooklyn, New York, to second-generation South American immigrants, his father was Haitian and his mother Puerto Rican. His mother worked as a fabric designer, exerting absolute influence on his art and encouraging his development in this direction. Basquiat began graffitiing at age four, displaying his talent by drawing what he saw and dreamed of, never letting go. Living near the Brooklyn Museum, which houses American art collections, he often visited museums with his mother. His father was a jazz fan, and his grandfather had been a guitarist and Latin band conductor. Under this artistic nurturing, Basquiat dreamed of becoming a writer or cartoonist, setting a great ambition: "After I turn seventeen, I want to become a star."

Basquiat's fate changed when he was hospitalized after a car accident at age seven. During his stay, his mother gave him a book titled Gray's Anatomy, which became the best way to pass the time in the hospital. These images deeply influenced his early paintings and later became the name of his band. Also at age seven, his parents divorced due to discord. From 1974 to 1976, he lived in Haiti; returning to New York in 1976, he enrolled in school and befriended Ai Diaz. During this period, he and Ai Diaz began graffitiing the streets, active around galleries in SoHo. Their free-form symbols and written sentences carried a poetic touch, often signed "SAMO," jokingly meaning "Same Old."

In 1978, he was expelled from school and ran away from home, beginning a bohemian life, selling T-shirts and postcards on the streets to make a living. He became fascinated with music, joining bands and frequenting underground cultural hubs for young New Yorkers like "Mudd Club" and "57 Club." This was the paradise of the arts community. In this gathering place, Basquiat coincidentally met rock musicians Bowie, Madonna, Warhol, and Haring. Warhol bought postcards painted by Basquiat himself, providing much encouragement and affirming his artistic talent. He also met curator and art critic Diego Cortez. The following year, he gradually gained fame in the East Village arts circle, frequently appearing on Glenn O'Brien's TV program. With the arrival of the new era in 1980, New York was at a moment of transition. With the rise of new art trends, in June, he participated in a group exhibition at Times Square on 42nd Street in New York's red-light district alongside punk and graffiti artists, attracting media attention. The following year, poet and art critic Rene Ricard published an article titled "The Radiant Child" in the famous Artforum, promoting Basquiat onto the international stage. Another benefactor, art critic Diego Cortez, was particularly fond of Basquiat's paintings, not only introducing him in writing but also finding collectors for his works. At this time, Basquiat broke up with his graffiti partner Ai Diaz to seek individual development. Basquiat officially began painting, and someone wrote "Death of SAMO" on the streets, signaling the end of an era.

In the artistic transition of 1981, Basquiat participated in a large exhibition titled "New York/New Wave" curated by Diego Cortez at P.S.1 in Long Island City, formally pushing Basquiat onto the New York art scene. He gained favor and collection from many collectors, becoming popular as luck turned in his favor. The following year, he frequently exhibited alongside important masters of the 1980s such as Julian Schnabel, David Salle, Francesco Clemente, and Enzo Cucchi. This new trend was quickly called Neo-Expressionism, a rise of new fashion and style. Clearly, in the imagery of the 1980–1982 period, the strongly expressive colors were full of literary and emotional qualities. Skull figures and mask-like heads often appeared, along with elements of street life such as cars, police, and buildings, combined with written sentences and free-form graffiti symbols.

For practical living, Basquiat collaborated with Annina Nosei Gallery. Encouraged by Annina Nosei, he painted tirelessly. The gallery aggressively promoted his works through cheap gift items and held a solo exhibition for him in 1982, receiving widespread acclaim and laying the cornerstone of his fame. During this period, Basquiat developed a drug addiction, stating, "I smoked a lot of drugs to relieve stress." In 1983, Basquiat became the rising star of New York. During this time, he met his idol Andy Warhol, which had a very encouraging effect on the artist because "everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." They collaborated on paintings and built a strong bond. He joined Mary Boone, the most prominent dealer at the time, who held a grand solo exhibition for him in May 1984. Basquiat became an overnight success, leveraging Andy Warhol's media influence to transform from a newcomer into a star. During this period, he highlighted his personal history and unique Black identity. His works featured numerous Black figures, street performers, women, toys, comic characters, etc., constructed through collage, writing, and multiple elements of puzzles of various sizes. Under expressive and subjective colors, they were full of violence and energy, with works that were quite emotional and literary. In 1985, Basquiat became the cover figure of New York magazine. Under the theme "New Art, New Money, and the Promotion of an American Artist," Basquiat became a household-name top artist.

With Basquiat's prestige at its peak, his artistic creation entered a mature stage. Using a new technique mixing painting, graffiti, and collage, he assembled scenes on canvas, developing a new type of free-form painting style. During this period, he relied entirely on drugs to survive. In 1987, Andy Warhol's death cast a deep shadow in Basquiat's heart. Long subjected to the destruction of excessive drug use, his body could no longer withstand it. On August 12, 1988, he died of a drug overdose, ending his dramatic and legendary life, just like a comet streaking across the starry sky, leaving behind eternal artistic brilliance.

Note: The biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat comes from the article "Free Art" Retrospective, exhibited at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris from October 15, 2010, to January 30, 2011. January 3, 2019, Taoyuan, Taiwan