CHAOS TO HOPE
Support: U.S. Embassy, Medical Principles Co., Ltd.
“People might say, ‘If you’re not interested in being a part of the system, then you shouldn’t care that you’re being ignored by the museums and the curators!’ Well, I really do believe that it will all happen later—the acceptance. It’s going to happen when I’m not here to appreciate it.”
— Keith Haring, 1989
It has been 24 years since Keith Haring passed away at the young age of 31 in 1990. Even as times and values have changed, his works continue to be loved around the world. This exhibition offers a retrospective of the highlights of the museum’s collection in anticipation of its 2015 renewal. While retracing Haring’s full artistic journey, the exhibition reconsiders the worldview he established and attempts to realize the dreams he could not achieve during his lifetime, which he believed would eventually be recognized.
The museum space, designed by architect Atsushi Kitagawara, reflects the concept of “darkness to hope,” adding new depth to Haring’s art. The dark slope, symbolizing the 1980s club culture, features works by young Japanese artists. By introducing works that reflect the present era, the exhibition explores new facets of Haring’s charm.
In the “Darkness” gallery, all 17 pieces of the Blueprint Drawings series will be presented together for the first time. Haring referred to this narrative collection as a “time capsule,” and the exhibition invites viewers to unravel its stories freely in the timeless space.
The centerpiece Giant Frame gallery focuses on Haring’s works from 1978 to the early 1980s, including his iconic Subway Drawings and films produced during his time at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). From these meticulously crafted drawings, visitors can glimpse the origins of Haring’s artistry.
Finally, in the “Hope” gallery, Untitled, Aug. 15th, 1988, a large-scale work created for Haring’s final solo exhibition, will be unveiled for the first time. Entrusting his hope and life force to art, this piece embodies the universal power of art.
The museum’s outdoor space will feature murals painted on temporary construction fences by Japan’s leading graffiti artists as part of the Curators’ Selection series. These murals resurrect Haring’s choice of public communication as the ultimate canvas, breathing new life into his legacy through the creativity of contemporary artists.
INSTALLATION VIEW
FEATURED ARTWORKS
Untitled, 1988
The Blueprint Drawings, 1990
The Blueprint Drawings, 1990
Untitled (Subway Drawing), 1981-83
