Exhibition Résonance - Jean-Michel Basquiat and the kongo universe
Résonance - Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Kongo universe is the name of the exhibition that brings together several drawings by the famous New York artist and anthropomorphic African nkisi nkonde sculptures from the Africa Museum in Belgium. These rare objects were used in magical rituals to cure diseases by groups from the Congo and Angola regions, but also as a demonstration of the communities' political power. The influence of African art in Basquiat's work is quite profound. The son of a Puerto Rican mother and Haitian father, a victim and constant witness of racism and discrimination of the African-American community in the United States, the artist is very interested in African history and traditions.
In 1983, reading Flash of the Spirit: African and Afro-American Art and Philosophy by Robert Farris Thompson so deeply affected Basquiat that the artist implicitly paid homage to the anthropologist that same year by titling one of his paintings Flesh and Spirit. This reference work shows how five African civilizations-Yoruba, Kongo, Ejagham, Mande, and Cross River-influenced the aesthetic, social, and metaphysical traditions of Blacks in the United States and throughout the Americas, from Cuba to Haiti, Mexico and Brazil. The Kongo world is one of Thompson's primary research interests and is discussed in Chapter 2 of Flash of The Spirit under the title "The Sign of the Four Moments of the Sun: Kongo Art & Religions in America”. Later, Basquiat met Robert Farris Thompson with whom he will have many discussions on this subject. Thompson will write several texts in books dedicated to the artist during his lifetime and after his death.
In 1984, it was another cultural and artistic shock that affected Basquiat during the controversial exhibition "Primitivism" at MoMA, which proposed to establish links between the avant-gardes of the beginning of the XXth century and the tribal art, or primitive art. Among the objects exhibited was a Fon (Benin) sculpture from the Kerchache collection, of which Basquiat made a representation.
Thus, the dialogue between the sculptures and his drawings is extremely potent. A very well curated, beautiful gallery makes the visit a surprising experience by proposing an unprecedented look at Basquiat's work.
From 07/09 to 19/11/22
Galerie Gradiva
9, Quai Voltaire
75007 Paris
