The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 3

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 5

    Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data

  • 7

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 9

    All BTS members renew contract with BigHit

  • 11

    K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action

  • 13

    Deoksu Palace's reconstructed Dondeokjeon hall to open to public

  • 15

    Hyundai Steel decides to form steel pipe unit

  • 17

    LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system

  • 19

    SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea

  • 2

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 4

    S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul

  • 6

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 8

    Harvest season arrives

  • 10

    Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo eliminated in 2nd round at Hangzhou Asiad

  • 12

    Serial killer transferred to detention center in Seoul equipped with execution chamber

  • 14

    Over half of Koreans want continuous strengthening of alliance with US: poll

  • 16

    Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts

  • 18

    EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees

  • 20

    Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Wed, September 27, 2023 | 14:15
Fortune Telling
From graffitist to American art icon
Posted : 2013-02-27 18:57
Updated : 2013-02-27 18:57
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
'Procession' (1986) by Jean-Michel Basquiat                                                              / Courtesy of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat,                                                                                               ADAGP Paris and ARS New York
"Procession" (1986) by Jean-Michel Basquiat
/ Courtesy of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat,
ADAGP Paris and ARS New York

By Kwon Mee-yoo

At his death at the age of 27, American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat left behind a body of work that exudes raw energy and captures the essence of American subculture and the neo-expressionist movement.


The Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, is exhibiting a collection of the works of the iconic graffiti artist, with his earlier works displayed at the K2 exhibition room and his later works at K3.

Born in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York, Basquiat was considered an established artist by the time he turned 20, with the city's high-profile galleries competing to pick up his work that originated from the city's streets walls. He also attracted attention with his collaborations with other artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

Basquiat seemed to be at his artistic peak when he died of a drug overdose in 1988, one year after the death of his mentor Warhol.

Yoo Jin-sang, professor of Kaywon School of Art & Design, compared Basquait's artistic career as a "flame" that glowed very brightly but also very briefly.

"Basquiat's works reflect the social aspects of America in the 1980s as well as the evolution of art and styles at the time. He lived a short life, but he was at the center of the American art scene," Yoo said.

Basquiat's upbringing as an African-American child raised by divorced parents is reflected in his works. He lived on the streets, playing music and taking drugs, for a couple of years before his first exhibition in 1980. Critical acclaim, however, came very quickly for him.

Basquiat's works were definitely influenced by Warhol but also Pablo Picasso and Cy Twombly, Yoo said.

"The rush of new media that began in the 1990s had compromised the weight paintings held in the art scene. But now trends have gone the full circle and paintings are influential as they once worked, and this is a great time to evaluate Basquiat's works in a new context," Yoo said.

The earliest works on exhibit are graffiti style paintings on canvas.

They were considered groundbreaking when they first appeared in New York galleries as spray paint had hardly been used on high-profile art work before then. Some of his other works are simply scribbles.

"He painted many crowns in his works and it can be interpreted as his effort to beat the hierarchy in society and artistic circles," Yoo said.

His works developed into an assemblage style like "Procession" (1986), in which he attached acrylic and wood reliefs on a wood panel, giving the piece more depth.

Later works on K3 are larger and more pictorial. The paintings brought out simple materiality from the use of color, according to the curator.

It is ironical that Basquiat now has become one of the most sought after contemporary artists, though he began as a noncommercial street artist. His graffiti-like 1981 work "Untitled" was sold for $16 million at the Phillips art sale last year.

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kukjegallery.com or call (02) 735-8449.

Emailmeeyoo@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul
2Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
3Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students
4Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemicSeoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic
5For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam
6[INTERVIEW] Wellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration INTERVIEWWellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration
7BOK warns of worsening household debt situation BOK warns of worsening household debt situation
8Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture
9POSCO International to enter US grain market POSCO International to enter US grain market
10Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
2Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
3Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
4[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
5K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group