Akbota Aryn on Keith Haring
A little boy who learnt basic cartooning skills from his father and inspired by Walt Disney, eventually became an artist with a big heart and thought-provoking artworks.
On May 4, 1958 was born an artist who changed the art world. Throughout his career, Haring devoted most of his time and attention to social issues, which often led to social messages in his art. Between 1982 and 1989, he created more than 50 public works around the world, many of which were created for charitable organizations, hospitals, kindergartens and orphanages. His generosity, selflessness, and nobility is impressive and inspires me to be a better person and artist.
During a short but bright career in the 80s, Haring’s works were presented in more than 100 group and solo exhibitions. In 1986 alone, he became the subject of more than 40 newspaper and magazine articles. He was in great demand for participating in joint projects and worked with such different artists and performers as Madonna, C, Bill T. Jones, Timothy Leary, Yoko Ono and Andy Warhol. Expressing the universal concepts of birth, death, love and war, using the primacy of the line and the directness of the message, Haring was able to attract a wide audience and ensure the accessibility and durability of his images, which became the universally recognized visual language of the 20th century.
Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. In 1989, he founded the Keith Haring Foundation, whose mission was to provide funding and support to AIDS organizations and children’s programs, as well as to expand the audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions and publications of his images. Haring used his images in the last years of his life to talk about his own illness and to increase activism and awareness about AIDS.
Haring’s Foundation helped huge organizations that help children and spread information about AIDS such as Mother and Child Alliance, Museum of Arts and Design, ACRIA, AIDS Walk New York, Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico and many others.
Artist who left his mark, physically and philanthropically has a tremendous amount of brilliant artworks.
IGNORANCE=FEAR, SILENCE=DEATH
For example, IGNORANCE=FEAR, SILENCE=DEATH. This iconic poster is memorable with three figures covering the eyes, ears and mouth, and a memorable slogan. Haring had a gift for creating images with direct impact. The stakes were raised here because of the shameful ignorance of the American government, which failed to raise awareness about the crisis. As a viewer can see, this picture is dedicated to encouraging those people and Keith Haring himself who have AIDS to face their own status in connection with this disease, regardless of whether they are negative or positive.
Keith Haring, Fertility Untitled 4, from the Fertility Suite
This is the second of five works in the artist’s 1983 collection. In this work, the artist illustrates a large spotted figure, similar to an idol, in orange and yellow tones. His arms are stretched out on both sides of the composition, and the torso is outlined by sharp spikes protruding outward from the center, and the shape resembling a female gender symbol is removed from the figure’s abdomen. The divine form is supported by the power of five small pink figures that seem to be pregnant. Haring’s depiction of these female figures repeats the concept of the entire set of Fertility, which makes Art Nouveau the place of fertility images in the history of art. The bright colors and precision of this work demonstrate Haring’s experience in the field of screen printing.
Keith Haring’s untitled painting “Fertility 4” from the 1983 set “Fertility” is part of a portfolio of five images in the artist’s 1983 set “Fertility”. This part of the work depicts forms participating in ritual actions when they enjoy their fertility.
Keith Haring, Growing (Plate 1), from the Growing Portfolio, 1988
Growing (Plate 1) is the first work of the Growing Portfolio of the artist in 1988. In this work, Haring illustrates a flat yellow background and a blue surface decorated with short black lines. In the center of this background, the artist depicts a large red figure surrounded by a black circle. This figure appears to consist of three people disassembled and rearranged to create one towering form with six arms, six legs and one head. This figure stretches almost the entire length of the composition and imitates the visual language of hieroglyphs. This language is similar to the language of advertising, and in creating this work, Haring uses his stencil drawings to convey his ideals in a way that attracts the attention of the media.
Keith Haring’s painting “Growth” 1988, is included in the portfolio of five screenshots in the artist’s portfolio “Lucky Strike” in 1987. This part of the work depicts fragments of figures made in the artist’s signature style, dismantled and reconstructed to create huge unique forms that dominate their compositions.
Nevertheless, in my opinion every single artwork by Keith Haring is a masterpiece and should be discovered more.
The artist who was brave enough to create art about taboo topics, share them and who made them iconic pieces in art history, the artist who is able to support people in need even after his bright career will always be a role model. I think Keith Haring is a figure whom I will be telling about to every person I meet.