Keith Haring died from AIDS 23 years ago in New York, but his work still speaks to current affairs. Le Musée d’Art Modern in Paris has just dedicated an exhibit to the oft-politcal late artist, featuring works ranging from his first drawing in 1978 until his last pieces from just before his death in 1989. Keith Haring’s prolific portfolio shines the light on violence, racism, homophobia and even nuclear trials, all put forth with a youthful energy. Simply put, Haring tried to make the world better and more thoughtful with his art. Even when he was ill, he remained an activist and joined a group to protest for safe sex. On September 15, 1985 he drew his piece Untitled, which portrays a monster whose body is covered by a red cross, symbolic of the presence of disease in the world
Haring’s work first appears playful and child-friendly, but it is the work of an enraged man. In spite of the color selection, there is an extreme presence of violence: the exhibit puts forth a story, placed into chapters by theme: Capitalism, Religion, Mass Media, The Fear of Nuclear, AIDS, Death. None of these themes belong solely to the past. His characters are in-temporal, not only due to the themes they embody but because of their lack of faces. They could be anyone; they are each of us.
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