Jean
Michel Basquiat,
Offensive Orange, 1982
The painting is by Jean Michel
Basquiat entails two characters composed of hard white, black, blue and pink
gestural marks. They stand opposite each other, holding sketched swords over a
stained yellow wall composed with letters, shapes, and lines and smudged red
brown and greens.
It feels confusing and random
yet in the same time playful, like a child freely painting or drawing. The scribbles
loosely dance in the yellow space the letter “A” appears four times, dashes of
marks respond to the figures as they prepare to do battle like a dialogue
between the two.
Though it seems lively and
innocent I sense a dark side, the atmosphere is much more serious. I wonder if
this is a interpretation of a person in conflict with himself? Or could it be the
idea of how society classifies people based on their race etc.? Hence the
various colours used and expressive gestures, transmitting emotions through
mark making.
Certainly the issues I see
are of a society in conflict represented by two figures in combat form. Society
masking sensitive issues based on race by painting a pretty picture as though
everything is fine. And yet the core of this fabricated misconception internally harbours ill will and leads to destruction.
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