I have never
known an artist that didn’t have something to say. At the very core of it all it’s
communication that is the thing. The form can be dance, sculpture, music, or
quilting…on and on. There is something of a story, a narrative, and some
explanation, a dissection of every element of any and every work. The graffiti
artist is among the greatest exponents of this idea and it is essential to the
form. “Look at me through my work, I have a message, I have a story, I am here
and I matter.”
Jean-Michel
Basquiat spoke cryptically and expressively first on walls and shortly
following on canvases. He was somewhat shy but he expressed himself eloquently
and poignantly in his spoken words. His thoughts and commentaries are now
collected in book form “Basquiat-isms” edited by Larry Warsh. It is certainly
of interest to his admirers across the globe. It is an excellent collection of
the voicings he imparted within his short but all so vastly incredible life.
In his brief twenty-seven year life Basquiat went from poverty and complete obscurity with such a meteoric progression that it could easily be referenced to as “over-night success.” It was really by no means so, as it unfolded in reality, referenced as so easily a thing as it might appear. It was however methodically planned, executed and created by his sheer will, determination and profuse understanding of the then (nineteen-eighties) New York art scene. It was no done without a measure of difficulty. Basquiat went from graffiti bomber (SAMO) to gallery representation to collected and sought out phenomenon, to now canonization. The book “Basquiat-isms” is a representation of this. It can inform, entertain, amuse and on occasion baffle you. I have sampled it here. Do enjoy and hopefully choose to seek it out for it’s entirety.
Quotes & Illustrations
"I like to have information rather than just a brushstroke. Just to have words to put in feelings."
Jean-Michel Basquiat
“I don’t think about
art when I work. I think about life.”
Jean-Michel Basquiat
"Magic doesn’t especially
Interest me. I like the intuition that tells me a work is finished."
I was trying to
communicate an idea. I was trying to paint an urban landscape. I was trying to
make paintings different from painting that I saw which were mostly minimal
that were highbrow and alienating.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
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Jean-Michel Basquiat
"I like words that jump off the page when I see them."
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
.jpg)
"The more I paint
the more I like everything."
Jean-Michel Basquiat
"Since I was 17, I
thought I might be a star."
"I cross out words so you will see them more; the fact that they are obscured makes you want to read them."
Jean-Michel Basquiat
"I think I make
art for myself, but ultimately I think I make it for the world."
Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Other artist in this series include: Ai Weiwei, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, Keith Haring and Futura -
Disney and Marvel
TV have come up with a winner this time out. As a long-time fan of the Stan Lee
and John Busema creative collaboration “The Savage She-Hulk” I am thoroughly enjoying
this recent incarnation. I was on-board beginning with issue #1 in 1980.The
series couldn’t be more faithful to the character of the transformed Jennifer Walters.
Nor could it be more entertaining and at times in it’s unique way
provocative.
Lee’s idea
in creating She-Hulk was to avoid what could have been, potentially a loss and overall
problem for the Marvel franchise. The identifying name and image of “She-Hulk”
had not been copyrighted and was open to anyone that wanted to do so. Lee wisely
obtained the copyright and his choice was timely. The creators of this new TV series;
“She Hulk: Attorney at Law” even made copyright infringement the subject of an
episode in this, the first season.
As written and along with the portrayal by Tatiana Maslany of the title character on the current program the production is very much a satirical take on comic book themes and the genre itself. The fourth wall is routinely broken, the villains are absurd clichés and the laughs are perfectly timed often subtle mind games. This TV incarnation is an almost literal version of what writer/artist John Byrne did following the Lee/Busema run on the Savage She-Hulk book. The satire, the breaking of the fourth wall, the leaping in and out from the mediums physical boundaries is pure Byrne; the character was also known to have conversations with Byrne himself (often complaining to him) as the stories were unfolding. The TV production has followed the Byrne tenure to perfection. The subsequent artistic teams following Byrne have stayed with his take and followed him in turn.
At this point to address the issue alluded to in the blog title; “What’s Wrong With She-Hulk?” there have been criticisms with many detractors falling into the disgruntled line of complaints and derision. The malcontent many fans find have broad and personal dis-satisfactions. Many on-line critics give voice to their perceived disdain for the writer’s skills, catering to the “Woke” audience and the emasculation of male characters. This is something that I don’t necessarily find to any real degree within the show myself but it is something of a problem on many other franchises today. These problems do have their merit. It will always be true that beauty and wit are in the eyes, ears and tastes of the beholders. These folks essentially have different ideas of what the program should be, they haven’t read the comics and their expectations or far different than what they are receiving as content. They don’t seem to realize they have every right to stop watching at any time, during any broadcast and find something closer to their personal likings and fancies.
For those that are among the undecided or the unviewed, take a-look-see. I think there is a good chance for you to enjoy She-Hulk. Join the mirth and the mayhem. Remember; don’t worry, be happy!
