Lot Essay
Keith Haring spent three weeks in Italy in June of 1984. During this time, he produced all of the works for his show at Galleria Salvatore Ala in Milan, as well as an installation at the Venice Biennale. The paintings, which were the main body of the show in Milan, were among the artist's first works with acrylic paint on stretched muslin. Keith Haring explained this choice: "I chose to begin painting with acrylic because of the wide range of color I had been ignoring in my previous works on vinyl. I think I also just wanted to prove that I could paint, or do anything, if I wanted to. I chose muslin because the surface was smooth and more delicate" (R. F. Thompson and D. Hockney, op.cit., p. 87).
Of Untitled, 1986, he recalls, "This drawing I first did in Milano. It was something I had been thinking about for a while. The reconciliation of the dead and the stomach. Pure intellect without feelings is impotent and even potentially dangerous (i.e., the computer in the hands of those who wish to control). Expressionism (stomach) without intellect is pointless and usually boring" (ibid., p. 85).
Of Untitled, 1986, he recalls, "This drawing I first did in Milano. It was something I had been thinking about for a while. The reconciliation of the dead and the stomach. Pure intellect without feelings is impotent and even potentially dangerous (i.e., the computer in the hands of those who wish to control). Expressionism (stomach) without intellect is pointless and usually boring" (ibid., p. 85).