As you might have heard, Keith Haring’s ‘Velum’ is back in Amsterdam. At the ‘Stedelijk museum’ to be correct. The museum remembers his exhibition by bringing back the famous ‘Velum’ piece. Ring a bell?
The piece was made as an addition to his solo exhibition in 1986. He insisted in making a new piece to exhibit next to his existing pieces. He only needed one day to create this amazing, imposing piece of art of 12 by 20 meters. Making it his biggest piece in Europe. The making of the piece was a performance itself. Journalists, photographers watching closely. Loud hiphop music and the rhythmic movements of Haring painting the canvas. Afterwards it was placed above the historic entrance of the museum. As the canvas was places over the glass roof, it filtered the incoming light beautifully.
In the eighties, Haring also was offered to make a painting on the outside wall of the depot of the museum. On the 32 meters high wall he made a painting, existing from one singular white line, making some kind fantasy animal. Artist Jan Rothuizen explained it as a sort of ‘happy dinosaur with a long neck, a Cobra-like mythical creature with a puppet riding on his back’.
Pictures by Olivier Varossieau / Keith Haring Foundation.
Keith Haring moved to New York in the late seventies to attent The School of Visual Arts, but mainly he worked outside on the streets. Making chalk-painting on empty bilboards, creating street murals and so on. He wanted to reach as many people with his art as possible. Haring was highly influenced by Warhol and Christo. Christo’s vision on art, and how it is supposed to be accessible for everyone, not only the elite was an huge inspiration for him. Overall his style was very abstract. The way his abstract figures fit seamlessly together is what distinguished him from others.
Last week, over 20 years later, the enormous piece of art was placed in its original location above the stairs. With help of the Keith Haring Foundation, the original canvas was cleaned and made fire resistant before being exposed again. Also they are working on bringing back the mural on the depot. So, I definitely cannot wait to go see it. What about you?
Sincerely,
Mr. J
Stedelijk Museum
Museumplein 10
1071 DJ Amsterdam
Open every day from 10 am till 6 pm
€€•••