KEITH HARING - Pisa and Berlin

Keith Haring was inspired by the cartoons of Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney.   Inspired by graffiti, he made chalk drawings on floors and walls of subway stations.  He interacted with subway commuters who wanted to know more about him and his work.  Despite the interest, he was arrested for vandalism multiple times by the NYPD.

Tuttomondo (All World)

This is a mural (painted by Keith Haring with the help of students in 1989) on the outside wall of the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, in Pisa, Italy.  It features 30 figures, each representing a different aspect of world peace.    Among the symbols are....

• A man holding a dolphin on his back: represents the relationship between man and nature.
• Woman cradling a child:  represents motherhood.
• Two human figures forming scissors and cutting a snake, symbolizing the defeat of evil.
• Television-shaped head:  could represent an eye on the world.
• Yellow figure: represents the viewer walking toward the Leaning Tower.

One of Keith Haring's most famous and significant works is the mural created on a section of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin Wall Mural

 The mural's message was one of brotherhood between the people of East and West Germany.  It depicted a chain of human figures linked hand-to-foot in the colors of the German flag.  The mural was a powerful symbol of unity and hope during the Cold War.

In 1982, Keith Haring created his first major outdoor mural on the Houston Bowery Wall in New York City.  

Houston Bowery Wall

 The mural's meaning can be seen in......

• Four large, upside-down green figures, representing hip-hop dancers who spin on their heads.
• Boxes with two 3-eyed smiley faces: represent greed and excess.

• 

  Haring's character
  style

  Nuclear atoms:  Haring was concerned about the effects of nuclear accidents and included two nuclear atoms and mushroom cloud imagery in the mural.

Haring's distinct artistic style included outlines of humans signifying the people within modern society.  He conveyed various incredibly important ideas through characters with a sense of rhythm and uninhibited freedom.

The world's largest jigsaw puzzles feature Haring's work.  A huge puzzle showcasing 32 of his paintings measures 16.4 feet by 6.6 feet and comprises more than 32,000 pieces.  It's the largest commercially available jigsaw puzzle.  Just imagine trying to find the four corners to get started!

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