In an unprecedented, world premiere exhibition, the National Gallery of Victoria will present the work of two of the most significant and influential artists of the late twentieth century in Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines. Exclusive to Melbourne, the exhibition will offer new and fascinating insights into their unique visual languages and reveal, for the first time, the many intersections between their lives, practices and ideas. 

Both from America, Keith Haring (1958-1990) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) changed the art world of the 1980s through their idiosyncratic imagery, radical ideas and complex socio-political commentary, creating an indelible legacy that continues to influence contemporary visual and popular culture today. Each artist is acclaimed for his distinctive visual language, employing signs, symbols and words to convey strong social and political messages in unconventional ways. 

The exhibition will survey each artist’s tragically short, yet prolific career through more than 300 artworks, including works created in public space, painting, sculpture, objects, works on paper, photographs, original notebooks and more. Crossing Lines will provide local and international audiences with a comprehensive insight into each of these influential artists, as well as an understanding of their broader impact, both in the 80s and 90s and continuing today. 

Beginning with examples of both artist’s work from the streets and subway stations of New York City, the exhibition presents works from each artist’s first exhibitions, their collaborations with each other, as well as with the likes of Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and Madonna. It continues by presenting some of their most acclaimed artworks, including pieces featuring Basquiat’s crown and head motifs and Haring’s iconic ‘radiant baby’ and dancing figures. 

An exhibition highlight will be Basquiat’s undisputed masterpiece, Untitled (1982), which depicts a skull, one of the artist’s most acclaimed motifs, against a complex, layered background, the work exemplifies Basquiat’s inimitable use of expressive line, gesture and colour. Haring engaged with many social and political causes, and actively fought against prejudice and injustice, raising awareness of the destruction of the environment, the AIDS epidemic, children’s health and many other issues facing humankind and the planet.

Significant artworks by Haring that will feature in this exhibition include his Untitled (1983), which, through a complex composition of figures, lines and a computer, offers a salient commentary on the rise and eventual domination of mass media and computer technology. 

The final section of the exhibition will feature Haring’s A Pile of Crowns for Jean-Michel Basquiat, a moving tribute to Basquiat after his friend’s death on August 12, 1988, composed of a pile of Basquiat’s distinctive crowns, made radiant through Haring’s masterful use of line and symbolism. A selection of his signature tarp paintings will also be on display, including Untitled (Australia), 1984, created on his only trip to Australia (during which he also executed his ephemeral water wall mural at NGV International).

Details on the display of the world-exclusive presentation of Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines as below: 

Date: 1 December 2019 – 13 April 2020

Address: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia. 

More details at ngv.melbourne.

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