Designed by ©︎Kosuke Hayashi
Keith Haring: 360°
Organized by: Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Supported by: U.S. Embassy, Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamanashi Board of Education, Hokuto City, Hokuto City Board of Education
In Cooperation with: Keith Haring Foundation, CMIC Holdings Co., Ltd., Museum of Art, Kochi, Tama Cultural Foundation
Keith Haring gained widespread recognition in the early 1980s with his Subway Drawings, created in chalk on empty advertising spaces in New York City subway stations. Even before his first solo exhibition in 1981, Haring curated exhibitions at unconventional venues such as clubs and theaters. His artistic career expanded further when he was selected for prominent international exhibitions like documenta 7 (1982) and the Venice Biennale (1984), solidifying his reputation as an artist. Although Haring passed away in 1990 at the young age of 31 due to complications from AIDS, his popularity remains undiminished more than 30 years after his death.
While Haring’s works are often perceived as simple and cheerful, they frequently address critical social issues, including child welfare, anti-war and anti-nuclear advocacy, the elimination of racial and sexual discrimination, and HIV/AIDS activism. Additionally, Haring’s art reflects his deep insights into art history and his fascination with technology, depicting the world from a perspective unrestricted by conventional notions of space and time.
The centerpiece of this exhibition is the sculpture Untitled (Man Balancing on Dog) (1989). Unlike Haring’s more iconic sculptures, which are typically vibrant and feature flat, graphic forms that seem to leap out of two dimensions, this piece is made of raw aluminum, emitting a subdued sheen. Viewers are invited to walk around the sculpture to explore its varying appearances from different angles. It can evoke the joy of a person playfully balancing on a dog or, as the title suggests, someone precariously maintaining their balance. The relationship between humans and animals and the pose of the figure might also inspire reflections on anxiety about an uncertain society.
Additionally, the exhibition includes newly unveiled photographs taken by artist and art journalist Makoto Murata during his immersive coverage of Haring in New York from December 1982 to January 1983. Other featured works include Untitled (KH.200) (1982, Museum of Art, Kochi), painted on waterproof fabric; murals such as My Town and Peace I–IV, created with approximately 500 children in Tama City in 1987 (Tama Cultural Foundation collection); and all six prints from the Bad Boys series (1986), produced in Amsterdam and newly acquired by the museum.
This exhibition offers a comprehensive reexamination of Haring’s multifaceted artistry and profound messages to society from a 360° perspective.
INSTALLATION VIEW
Photo by ©︎Tamami Iizuka
FEATURED ARTWORKS
Untitled (KH. 200), 1982, The Museum of Art, Kochi
Documentary photography, 1982-1983, Photo by ©Makoto Murata
My Town, Peace I–IV, 1987, Tama City Cultural Foundation
Untitled (Figure Balancing on Dog), 1989, Photo by ©Shu Nakagawa
