Analysis Of Basquiat

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Emma Scheidt December 12, 2017 Art 188 Dr. Lori Parks There is Light in Darkness Jean Michel Basquiat; 1960 - 1988. A short life indeed, but in his limited time on this earth, Basquiat made sure he left an everlasting footprint in its soil. In Basquiat's short lifetime, he used his unique artistic abilities to not only contribute to the current world of art, but to help shape its future. By opposing the norm of his time, Basquiat created many pieces that portrayed harsh realities, but in a style new to the world around him. Though his work was controversial, Basquiat still went on to create many raw pieces that challenged the minds of its viewers. One of these raw pieces is a colorful painting of a skull done by Basquiat in 1981. This untitled …show more content…

The fringe like lines connect the intricate spirals and lines inside of the skull with the bright colors outside of the skull. In the midst of the disconnect between the skull and the viewer, these small lines seem to be the only form of connection between the skull and the rest of the piece. Basquiat, in the midst of his personal struggles was still connected to the world through his art. In times of trouble, his art kept him grounded and gave him a muse. Even in Basquiat's last moments, he used art to connect to the world one last time through a tragically beautiful goodbye. On August 12, 1988 Basquiat passed away in the bathtub of his home after a heroin overdose. But he didn’t go without leaving one last message for his followers. “ There was a jagged hole punched in the bathroom window. Beneath it was scrawled the legend "Broken Heart," with Basquiat's favorite punctuation, a copyright …show more content…

Through times of personal struggle and tribulations, he stayed connected to the world through these works of art he created. His untitled piece he created in 1981, was another example of how he connected to the world. By creating it as an untraditional portrait of himself, Basquiat was able to better portray himself to the world. From the colors, to the lines, to the symbols Basquiat used in this piece, he drew direct connection between his life and this raw image of a skull. Through the darkness of this self portrait, a brilliant mind shines

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