F. Gentile 2003-09-15
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Keith Haring was someone I would have liked to have known. I recall seeing his paintings, which at the time were almost considered graffiti, around Manhattan in the early 1980's, and, being charmed by his trademark faceless little expressions of mass humanity. He became the artist most identifiable with the 1980's. But, he was much more than that. He was always very aware of his role as an artist, and, without any conceived pretention, what that role meant in society. Some artists are very insular, and develope their art in total privacy, for later viewing. Keith Haring was an artist who wanted people "involved" in the happening of his creativity. These journals, which he began sporadically from his teens, until his death from AIDS in 1990, show someone far more serious, with a sincere social conscience, than his often whimsical style suggests. He had a huge and unquestioning admiration for children, having a connection to them which could be described as what he called a mutual joy in the "gift of life", not yet jaded or corrupted. There are excerpts here which sometimes read like a tedious travelogue, of his shows worldwide. But, they are worthy reading overall because of his observations about people, politics, and the publics reaction to what he was trying to say through his art. He hated the "business" end of the art world, but acknowledged it as a necessity, if you wanted your art to be seen. He especially viewed businessmen and politicians as inheritantly evil and corrupt, making the astute observation in 1987 that white men in particular use "religion and business as a tool to fulfill his greed and power hungry aggression..."Expansion", "colonization", "dominitation", are all filled with the abuse of power and the misuse of people." (Some things never change...) His very sensitive side can be seen in his reaction to the death of dear friend and mentor Andy Warhol. It is very moving, and pays tribute and appreciation to one of his first supporters. He believed in the good of SOME people, in a corrupt world, and in the hope of change for the better in mankind. His art was a reaching out, which he prophetically foresaw as outlasting what he always felt would be a short life. These journals are the entertaining account of the life of a very talented, very intelligent, dear man, and I feel they'd be an interesting read even if their author were anonymous.There are lessons here, and not just for art students. As he intended, his art is what remains. It has a universal appeal, it "speaks" to people everywhere, about life, war, technology, sex, in a language everyone understands. As he observed regarding his need to keep creating, even in the face of impending death... "Work is all I have, and art is more important than life."
