Jean-Michel Basquiat. Of Symbols and Signs

The exciting, colorful retrospective monograph 'Jean-Michel Basquiat. Of Symbols and Signs' offers new insights into Basquiat's unique visual language and helps clarify messages about political and social issues that are as urgent today as they were half a century ago.

The symbolic, complex and often emotionally charged work of Jean-Michel Basquiat had a huge impact on the art scene in downtown New York City in the 1980s. And although his all-too-short career ended when he died at the age of 27, Basquiat left an enormous legacy - not only in the number of works he produced, but also in the messages he codified around political, social, racial and cultural issues. This fascinating book shows how Basquiat used an intricate network of signs and symbols to challenge the system that made him a darling of the art world. It follows his sources of inspiration, including cartoons, children's drawings and advertising, as well as his own Haitian and Puerto Rican origins.

The book discusses the influence of African-American, African and Aztec cultural history and shows how Basquiat incorporated classic themes and contemporary icons, from athletes to musicians, into his work. What becomes clear is how Basquiat, even as a young man, had a deep understanding of the role of the artist in art history and of his position as a young black artist in a world of racism, oppression and social injustice. This book helps readers decipher Basquiat's unique lingua franca, an intoxicating body of work full of social commentary that was alternately sharp, angry, comical, hip and heartbreaking, and that remains powerful and meaningful today.

Specifications
Title: Jean-Michel Basquiat. Of Symbols and Signs
Authors: Dieter Buchhart
Publisher: Prestel
Size: 307 x 254 x 24 mm
Size: 216 pages
Weight: 1553 grams
Language: English
Material: Hardcover
ISBN: 9783791379579

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