The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, through a special program, highlights the works of the creative American artist Jean-Michel Basqueat (1960-1988), who set out from the local art scene of New York City to be one of the most famous artists of the late 20th century.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Pasquiat Art Festival, the famous work of Cabra, inspired by the knockout of the American boxer Mohammed Ali Clay in 1970 for the Argentine rival, the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi is hosting a series of events, His painting "Capra" (1981-82) was acquired by the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum in 2017.
On April 17, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will hold a "Dialogue with Friends of Basque" meeting in the presence of friends and relatives, including Jeffrey Deitch and Leonard Hilton McGrr, known as Futura, where they share their personal experiences with the artist. The discussion is moderated by researcher Shidria Lavovir, who specializes in the work of Basqueat, and discusses the artistic heritage of Basque, which is mixed with experimental music and street performing arts. The Louvre Abu Dhabi will host the panel discussion and will be preceded by a 20-minute screening of Jean-Michel Basqueat's "The Splendid Child," which was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006.
The Manalat Saadiyat Gallery Hall will host the Kanal Zone Party Remix on April 18, in an attempt to recreate the famous Kanal Zone concert held in New York City on April 29, 1979, which formed the starting point for Basqueat's art world. The evening is full of music, performances and Basque-inspired arts, turning into a Manhattan-style theater scene in New York City, where culture mixes with artists and creative musicians in venues such as Mod Club, where Basque has performed experimental music with his Gray band.
The singers of Manarat Saadiyat will be accompanied by DJ coordinators who mix rap, punk and no-wave music with contemporary local music, as well as enjoy artistic installations, video presentations and graphic works.
The Capra painting, which Basqueat painted between 1982 and 1982 at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, is inspired by the knockout of American boxer Mohamed Ali Clay in 1970 in his Oscar-winning Oscar Bonavina, depicting a bull's skull on a dark red background , Hovering above the boxing ring with hieroglyphic drawings at the top of which the TKO form the technical knockout. "Capra" is a Spanish word meaning "goat" which refers to the abbreviated title of boxer Mohamed Ali GOAT «Greatest Of All Time» which means the greatest ever. Mohammed Ali was one of Basque's heroes. The painting was a tribute to him and to all dark-skinned athletes as a source of inspiration for dark-skinned young men everywhere around the world.
"Baskyat is one of the brightest artists of the 20th century," said Maysa Al Qassimi, Senior Project Manager, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. "This program is a source of inspiration for local artists and the public as a whole, as well as an important step in promoting the emirate's cultural growth and developing its artistic landscape.
A short life
During his short life, Basquet fought many challenges to establish his art and gain fame among young people amid the growing artistic landscape of East Village in the 1980s. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960, Baskett has family problems to live on the streets and explore the art of graffiti.