Is Basquiat’s family ruining his art?
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- Is Jean-Michel Basquiat's family devaluing the meaning of the late artist's work with all of the merchandise being produced? You see all the goodies everywhere and it has sparked quite the discussion.
This video was inspired by @pejamane who did a great video on this very subject. Be sure to check out his channel.
If you are interested in talking more about modern art, or have any modern art or design you would like to purchase or sell (I offer free evaluations) please contact me at info@christopherwestpresents.com
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As in life, so in death. (Exploited)
Truer words never spoken.
Exploited? he was partying all nights with Andy, Madonna, and so on an so on. His ancestors were really exploited, my man.
I admit I rolled my eyes when i saw his stuff everywhere but... i think what would JMB have wanted? I think he would have liked the idea that everyday ppl can own a little something. And yes, the message gets lost but even if a small percentage are inspired enough to find out more then that's a win.
Good point. Warhol would have def been ok with this. Wish JMB had been around a little longer.
I really like the idea ! (of the video). It should be longer to talk more about this topic
Thank you! I’ll do more!
Thank you again. We’re on holiday here. Watching your videos with a cup of coffee before the kids jump on the bed is the best start to the day.
Wow what a compliment! Thank you and enjoy your time away!
I would ask myself whether Basquiat, Haring or even Warhol belong to a museum in the first place.
They are part of a period in art, but the way they were treated by the market elevated them to a place, over more interesting artists, which is probably undeserved.
That treatment is, in my view, the begining of what you just posted about, therefore I don't see a deviation regarding these artists and their work.
Again, market, not art, has driven their prices up, and the same market made those coffee mugs.
That’s an excellent point. But I do think they belong in museums.
Great Video ! Thaks !
Thank you!
Mona Lisa on a t-shirt has hardly damaged her reputation. Specifically BECAUSE we can't afford the real thing, regular folks can still enjoy the artist's work via licensed merchandise. And, when I'm wearing my "not for sale" hat or crown t-shirt people might inquire, and I can enlighten them. Interesting discussion! Thanks.
There’s also no active market for Leonardo da Vinci. You literally can’t hurt the value of the Mona Lisa because it will never be sold. Basquiat on the other hand is a very active market.
Thing is, art should be accessible to all. It just shouldn't be though socks and t shirts, it should be through galleries. People hoarding art is the problem. It's wild that there is Basquiat everywhere on the high street, but I had to travel to Germany to see the only Basquiat on public view in Europe. Why can't I ever see the Bacon triptychs I want to? Because they're in a billionaire's basement. And I appreciate the opinions of other commenters, it's no different to me wearing a T shirt of the bands I like (which I do), as long as the profits are going somewhere towards the band, or the artist, or getting that artist wider appreciation. But it's a bit sad to say well, at least you can see a T shirt of a Basquiat, when the owner could just let the public see it in the flesh.
I do wish private collectors did more public loans - but there will never be another Bacon or Basquiat painting - so by their very nature they are scarce. If you are anywhere near Pittsburgh go to the Warhol museum - lots of Basquiats currently on view.
His work has been over exposed and I can’t even look at it anymore. Used to be my favorite artist
I sadly agree.
It's a fine line isn't it? Having something on a product that may lead someone down the rabbit hole, ending at the appreciation for an artist may be the most generous way of looking at this. The price paid is cynicism from those who already may revere the artist and sense a diminishing effect. I own some Herring merch and happy to do so, it reminds me of what I saw in the work as a kid, while I can get the deeper message when I do visit an exhibition. On a different note: I'm enjoying your videos a lot! I've always been intrigued by modern art but I feel it's often so hard to understand or it's just unaesthetic (or both) whereby it becomes vacuous to me. You're helping me unravel the mystery.
I keep going back and forth. My refrigerator is covered with magnets of art I admire. But do I need Warhol socks? I don’t think so. Thanks so much for watching and the kind words! 🧦 🧦🧦
Very good point and worth debating! Also, there’s a difference in function: while a canvas only serves the purpose of displaying the image, an AirPod case or a t-shirt has a practical purpose in daily life, so the art receives only a secondary function here. PS: Nice pronunciation :)
That’s so true. It becomes not about the art, but about the possessor of such things. And thanks so much for the kind words!
Absurdly materialistic view...as if a canvas won't have any purpose except visual, and even then, do you not realize what art does to one's inner self? Spoke too soon, eh? Art is not practical? it's that and so much more.
@@sSsOnVideo What? Got the comment you're referring to deleted? I think you're misunderstanding here sth?
Great work. Happy to see there’s a new Basquiat show on.
It was in NYC and LA. Hoping they add more venues.
Also - thanks!
I'd love to see a debate on this topic. Great (provocative) video!!
You’re supposed to have all the answers!
@@christopherwestpresents I know nothing!!! I watch your videos to learn more! Thank you so much!!
My opinion: you can't, on the one hand, say that the meaning of a piece of artwork depends on the viewer and, on the other hand, say that the use of a piece of artwork might not "convey the true meaning of it".
Good point!
True, there is no true or universal meaning to a work, but I think we can all agree that editing a work/only choosing certain elements of it to display is going to affect the way it is perceived or interpreted. As to whether Basquiat would have approved of these ‘artistic liberties’ being taken with his work is hard to say.
I dislike the "branding" part because I've seen a number of people wearing t-shirts, jeans, and shoes with his art or name on them, and many who I come across have no idea of who he is or what his work truly means. They only looked at the design as something "cool" to wear that matches their favorite sneakers.
This is the truth.
Within modern Western neoliberal Capitalism, the 'cult of personality’,
is the only intrinsic value to a piece of 'high Art'.
The artist's name will always be more important than the art they create or 'created'.
Every modern 'artist' is/was ...also a capitalist entrepreneur themselves.
There is now a long history of 'product' and 'commercialised artistry' being sold as art.
They must be 'branded' as if a ‘commercial product’… Warhol, Pollock and Basquiat.
The art they actually produce is always secondary to their overall branding.
As the owner, if you're able to raise awareness of the brand... the originals all go up in value.
It's a complete fiscal circle. Because their 'brand' tells you their products worth,
in purely 'Capitalist' monetary terms. And that's the only reason why they exist at all.
As a commodity. A commodity that was purchased cheaply and then advertised,
in order for its monetary value to be increased exponentially.
You know exactly when a piece of high 'art' is purely 'a brand' and not real.
For it has to be 'artificially' displayed in a white walled space.
Or it looks like junk, or the work of a disturbed child.
This is what capitalism does... it produces luxury goods and modern artist 'brands',
that are no different than a high fashion brand or a luxury perfumery.
Why are you watching a channel all about art?
@@christopherwestpresents Because you asked a very specific question.
And I explained why it is important for those that own a stake in the originals... that the 'brand name' becomes synonymous with the 'highest tier' in the 'canon of Capitalist high art' earners. You do that... only by the proliferation of the brand within the wider cultural mass market.
It must become a house-hold name. Then the originals become... priceless.
@@commonwunder the originals are already priceless. All this ‘branding’ can do is cheapen the art.
@@christopherwestpresents This particular 'brand'... it isn't that widely known. You can't cheapen 'high art' - unless it is someone like 'Banksy' ( Who is known, to the point of saturation and is still deeply beloved by the masses ) you have to constantly cement the brand into the popular zeitgeist... by saturation. A similar brand from Warhol's stable was Keith Haring. Also generally unknown, apart from within the gay community. The brand must keep the commercialisation stream into pop culture in order to keep its status. Warhol was a genuine Capitalist entrepreneur and used ( gamed the system ) the system as well as any one. That's why he was worth over a hundred million just before he passed on.
@@commonwunder I agree. It might seem overkill, BUT for work that is effectively a brand, the brand (and more importantly the artist's story) needs to sink into the public's awareness. If his sisters are aiming to have their brother remembered for more than a few generations they need to weave his story into the collective memory. It's amazing what culture chooses to remember or forget. There were a number of writers of the Victorian era who outsold Charles Dickens - but he's the one we remember. Why? Was he a better writer? Not necessarily, but his stories are still in print while all those other authors are footnotes because he was a genius at marketing his story. His art is a vector for his story. I think someone smart has advised Basquiat's sisters that if they want their brother to be remembered forever (or at least for his work not to be thrown into the trash by 2200 if not earlier by people who inherit it and don't care how much was originally paid because they don't like it and there's no one alive who wants to buy it) they have to sell their brother's story. It's Basquiat's story that makes the paintings valuable. The pencils and socks also sell their brother as an artist in the same category as Michaelangelo, Monet and all the other 'great artists' you find on socks and pencils. As an artist, I don't think it cheapens a work of art to have elements of it printed on phones or t-shirts. If people buy a phone case because they like the image and it makes their lives more beautiful (or meaningful because they know and love the story behind the work) I think that's a good thing.
Personally I think most of the people who buy the products are already interested in and familiar with the art. Thus they are most likely familiar with the subject matter and are proliferating the knowledge of its existence. I think this is a good thing, though I do understand the concerns.
I think most people recognize the work, and may know some of his tragic story. But I’m not convinced people really know what his art was about.
Mic in shot
Yes. Thanks.
Imagine: what would Johanna van Gogh-Bonger do today?
That’s an excellent question!
As the greatest living Artiste' in the world.. The artist is responsible.. Make a specified will and living will. Taste is everything. Cheers. K.o.f. © 2024
Agreed. But this probably wasn’t the first thing on the mind of a 27 year old on heroine.
@@christopherwestpresents his gallery.. Andy.. Madonna.. His friends.. Family..
Great topic.
Always appreciated. Thanks!
Like look at these people inviting themselves to Basquiat’s personal decision. So ridiculous. No one here created his work. So no one here has any and I mean any grounds to say.
Basquiat wanted to sell iPhone cases?
He's one of the GOATs 💯
I just wish he had lived longer!
I wonder if he knew Keith Harring ....... ?
He did!
His sisters? there is a saying in my ranch, you never know to whom you are working for.
I like this saying.
Interesting perspective, I was going to say, it’s Pop Art so it’s appropriate but now I’m less sure 😃
I don’t mind appropriation as much as I do all the merchandise.
@@christopherwestpresents Agreed 😄 I wasn’t really speaking about appropriation as much as appropriateness which is to say that branded merch seems a bit frivolous when considering the subject matter. And if what you say is right then perhaps sharing the art is a better way to profit financially.
One point that may be of value to the discussion is accessibility. I find Basquiat’s art quite inaccessible in that he was dealing with (to use the inappropriate expression) ‘primitivism’ ie ‘I could have done that’ art (which is obviously not true to experienced eyes but less obvious to the general public) when placed in the context of merchandise it does encourage people to engage with it on their own terms ie it makes it fashionable which may encourage deeper engagement. And considering he started with graffiti, perhaps this is the new way to reach his audience.
@@Dev1nci good points all.
@@christopherwestpresents 😄 very thought provoking video man thanks. I’ll check out some more content.
@@Dev1nci very much appreciated! I’m still relatively new at this but trying!
His name is pronounced Bas key ah or Bas-kya.
Without knowing the sisters history with Basquiat or her current financial status, I think that a discussion will be hard. I'm sure there could be a lot of speculation. If Basquiat's paintings are selling for mega millions I don't think it's about getting the name or art known. Which leaves personal greed. But like I said, it's all speculation. `\ (``) /` IDK
He’s definitely not unknown - but so few museums have his work because they are so expensive. And I think the sisters are doing just fine - that’s why I think they need to loan it out!
Squat art
🤷🏻♂️
I hate the skateboards which are sold as if Basquiate created them - and priced accordingly (ish). Why the music btw? Annoying.
This is literally what’s happened with Tolkien and his work.
I hadn’t thought about that but that’s a great point.
It never had the value it claimed to have to begin with. Without the white art establishment marketing him as a unique prodigy and becoming the token black artist, he would have gained little traction in the art world. His art is largely held up by the marketing machine that propelled him.
This has been happening for decades, regardless of the color of the artist’s skin.
@@christopherwestpresents Sorry, you need to give examples that mirror Basquiat's experience. You can't just make a false generalization like that. I mean, the dude was paraded around in a fashion runway show.
Basquiat was sadly exploited, was he a “ gifted” Artist or a media sensation. I do find his 112 million dollar ( # 12 I believe) work interesting; but reading critic’s writing about his work still puzzles me; “ now, what is the meaning of the crown? “ go figure.
His work was definitely met with mixed reviews initially.
You know I like that Basquiat monkey’s ass neck pillow! Actually I don’t. If you were Basquiat’s sisters, would it be possible to even resist the temptation to make a small fortune off the estate… graphics? I think not. That said, I always think back to “what would the artist think?” Warhol or Haring, they would probably dig it. But I don’t think Basquiat would.
So there were 200+ works from the estate in the exhibition they organized. Sold properly that’s at least what - $400-500 million? Likely more. Seems like a pretty good nest egg to be sitting on.
Also I have little Warhol and Kusama wooden dolls, so who am I to judge 🤷🏻♂️
Just like Frida Kahlo's family (the descendants of the sister who cheated on her with Frida's own husband) sold her legacy to the lowest bidder and then lost all control of it. Karma, of course. But still very sad and unfortunate what greed does. Her art has been greatly cheapened by being slapped on cheap plastic china-made junk, and even alcohol.
This is a good point. I forgot about that story.
Learn how to say his name correctly
🙌
@@christopherwestpresents shut the
@@christopherwestpresents shut the
BASS KEE YO