Throughout Keith Haring’s private and public life, he played and worked to the accompaniment of music. His personal relationship with DJ Juan Dubose, his friendships with people in the club scene and the recording industry, and his insatiable desire for new music guaranteed him a perpetual source of inspiration. At all hours of the day and night, his studio resonated with the sounds of an infinite variety of music; hip-hop, house, reggae, rap, disco, rock, classical, Caribbean, Brazilian, African, and Top 40. In his travels, he would always carry a selection of tape compilations made for him by various friends and DJs, which he would blast while painting murals as well as at the openings of his exhibitions.
Being a gay man in 1980’s New York Haring was exposed the exciting club scene of the time that was taking shape across Midtown and the Lower East Side. From house to techno, Hip Hop to performance art - the city was a hotbed of new expression. Luminaires including basquiat, old hands such as Warhol and new artists Kenny Schaff mingled with up and coming musicians and performers to create a heady mix of creativity. Haring would often frequent, and indeed paint murals, at the Paradise Garage which was the first multi-cultural gay club.
Situated on the border of SoHo that was central to Keith Haring’s world from the early 1980s until it closed in 1987. Haring was the key figure behind the exuberant convergence of art, music and performance that developed there. This exhibition celebrates the creative fusion inspired by Haring and his Paradise Garage circle. The show includes both work that reflects the spirit of the Paradise Garage and work that was made for events and performances at the club. Larger paintings and objects are displayed in the main gallery space with a special day-glo room installed downstairs.
“Keith was a product of the whole street vibe. Paradise Garage was four walls to put the street in. He was about what the street was. What percolated on the street was what Keith was about.” Junior Vasquez
Through his work at the club, Hating would also meet other important musicians and merge his pictorial art with their musical influence. From Hip-Hop pioneers RUN DMC and Fab Freddy Five through to a new to artist on the block whose name would be familiar to many reading this article, Madonna - Haring found himself immersed in this exciting world.
As counter culture became mainstream the convergence of these two distinct, yet not so different worlds, influenced global artistic and musical culture. The works of Haring, whose life was tragically cut short by the very disease who Haring so tirelessly fought to raise awareness of, entered the collections of museums and private collectors whilst the music of his peers entered the charts around the world. Through this exciting combination of music and art, of the time but not stuck within it, has brought joy to millions and continues to inspire.
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