SIGNS SYMBOLS & SIGNIFIERS
When we Survey & Research the 6th Region of our Diaspora, and higher echelons of the Arts & Culture Establishment. What is Revealed can be Horrific, Bitter, and Contentious.
The Best of Us through higher Virtues, God given Talents, Courage, Stamina, and Will Power, refuse to be reduced, force to surrender, die young, and penniless. Even when Face to Face with Death!
As usual, the legacies of our own, now owned by others, are utilised as perpetual wealth for specific groups of people, cliques, and bigger Heads at the top of the social ladders.
When we look deeply into this particular reality, and the reasons for it all. With the same Patterns of Appropriation, repeated over and over again. Isn’t it Suspicious and Supercilious?
A QUICK KILLING!
In the 20th Century, many of our Great Champions, became the Sacrificial Lambs, at the Alters to their gods of Fire, Fortune, Fame & Money. And we question, who are the real beneficiary from our vast extraordinary generational Collective Legacies and Heritage? Of which, we rarely see and know.
The most recent case from the 20th century, into the 21st century, is Jean Michel Basquiat. This Brightly Shining Star in a Galaxy of Creativity, Meteoric Rise and Burnout is well documented, and is chillingly described as ‘A Quick Killing.’ Scribbling and tagging walls in New York, to leaving a unique intuitive body of Neo Expressionism art.
Now, nearly 40 years after his death, the wealth generated for his works are valued in the Billions. Fixed within the higher levels of the Blue-Chip art market, engaged with wealth generation. Without a shadow of doubt, in more years to come, the total body of Basquiat’s works, will increase value into trillions. The art world are just beginning to fully understand the work, of this African American genius.
ART BUSINESS
In the vast, well protected arenas at the pinnacle of the Visual Art Business. At that time, Basquiat was an anomaly, completely different to the norms of the business systems in place.
The first in a new line, this was distinctly due to historical factors such as; Race, colour, Class, and Type-Cast. Yet still, regardless of all the negatives in that game. Once you are accepted in the Higher League of the Commercial Visual Art Business, you’re in! The Rules are fixed, and applied to all.
Basquiat first painting sold was ‘Cadillac Moon’ to Debbie Harry, lead singer with the pop group Blondie. He received $200 in 1981. He was 21. In the same year, art dealer and gallerist Emilio Mazzoli, bought 10 Basquiat works for $10,000, and held an exhibition at his gallery in Modena, Italy.
Recalling the year, Jean Michel stated,”I had some money, I made the best paintings ever.” In 1984, his works had appreciated value by 500%. In 1985, his paintings were selling between $10,000 to $25,000 each. Basquiat rise to fame in the international Art Market, resulted in a front cover of ‘The New York Times Magazine’ in 1985.
Gallerist Niru Ratnam stated, “highly individualistic, expressive view of the world.”
Art historian Luis Alberto Mejia Clavijo, believes Basquiat’s work inspires people to “paint like a child, don’t paint what is in the surface but what you are re-creating inside”.
Musician David Bowie, a collector of Basquiat’s works stated, “he seemed to digest the frenetic flow of passing images and experiences, put them through some kind of internal reorganisation, and dress the canvas with this resultant network of chance.”
Curator Marc Mayer said this in 2005. “Basquiat speaks articulately while dodging the full impact of clarity like a matador. We can read his pictures without strenuous effort—the words, the images, the colors and the construction—but we cannot quite fathom the point they belabor.
Keeping us in this state of half-knowing, of mystery-within-familiarity, had been the core technique of his brand of communication, since his adolescent days as the graffiti poet, SAMO. To enjoy them, we are not meant to analyze the pictures too carefully.
Quantifying the breadth of his research, certainly results in an interesting inventory, but the sum cannot adequately explain his pictures, which requires an effort outside the purview of iconography. He painted a calculated incoherence, calibrating the mystery of what such apparently meaning-laden pictures might ultimately mean.”
What is beautiful about the death of Jean-Michel Basquiat, from the very beginning. He orchestrated his after-life – to more life forever – more. Ultimately, what Basquiat gave the world of the arts, is how to confront and deal with the Great Unknown – Death!
If in doubt about my viewpoint, and perspectives on the matter. Look carefully through the lens of my binocular, close up! From my standpoint in the fields of the visual arts, it may prove difficult to see what I see. Even more complex, you are unable to walk a mile in my shoes. Basquiat wears the crown of a true champion!