Jean-Michel Basquiat 1960-1988: The Explosive Force of the Streets Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, March 15, 2011

Jean- Michel Basquiat's now world famous art had its gestation in the pseudonym SAMO [an acronym and a corrupted shortening of the phrase "SAMe OLd S***"] with which he signed his spray painted sayings on walls and buildings in SoHo.[Manhattan,N.Y.] According to to the author, Leonhard Emmerling---"In essence, the SAMO religion was a retort against the way in which society uses values and ideals, an art product tailored to a starched society". The following are some of Basquiat's SAMO musings and some of my own interjected: "SAMO as announcing the unheroic gringo pilot, Paul Tibbets dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima from the plane "AnolaGay". "SAMO as hearing the voice of Charlie Parker-- They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But man, there's no boundary line to art"." SAMO as suggesting Egypt is in Africa". "SAMO as a John Coltrane country preacher cool". "SAMO like works of art, people are suppressed". SAMO as those who fear the truth oppose its exposure". "SAMO as jazz is the music of Americans who were not allowed to be Americans"." SAMO as seeing Miles Davis as a "prince of light" and not "darkness".SAMO as suggesting death is a passage, a door into a different form of existence". SAMO as pledging to avenge the criminal triumph of falsehood over truth". As the writer,Franklin Sirmans states in his essay "In the Cipher"[ Basquiat and Hip-Hop Culture]: As "Gringo Pilot suggest,Basquiat's poetics were acutely political and unabashedly direct in their commentary on colonialism, racism, and class warfare". This critical awareness in the art of Basquiat is what the film-"Basquiat" by Julian Schnabel obfuscates.

I’m not the type of person to leave reviews but this distributor/bookseller provides an easy and efficient service that I don’t usually come across from non-major book distributors on Amazon. My book is in great condition and exactly as advertised. The catalogue is great and I’ll definitely be buying another book!

I've read other books in pertinence to Basquait and as childish as this may sound, I really enjoyed this one due to the saturation of art on every page! I've noticed that an enormous amount of people are intrigued by Basquiat's "live fast, die young" kind of rockstar persona and have completely missed the most important aspect of what he even lived and died for: his art. Much like any other brilliant artist, everything you want to know about him is right there in his paintings. Even his SAMO graffiti showed you his sporadic train of thought and strangely enough his own evolution. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. It's an incredible bargain for this price.

I don't know if it's because I didn't paid enough atention but the book I received was way bigger than I expected, which is awesome since artbooks are better when they are big! I always purchase Taschen books because they have the best editions for a really cheap price. I was really surprised, the book was big, with hardcover and only for a few $. It was worth it!

You wont regret to have this book. good quality !!! Shipped on time,I bought Pollock and Basquiat. You wont be just reading the book, both of them has lots of pictures of his works that you will enjoy to see.Thanks again!

Happy to have this publication in my art/artist library. It contains some paintings that I had not seen before and also opens up a better understanding of the artist and his work.

Thank heavens for such a good book on the market now. The reproductions exceed the publisher's description and we have too few such quality books for so great an artist.

Occasionally looking at this book is therapeutic I'd purchase it if it was even 3 dollars more I have to write more words it isn't more words it's already therapeutic!!!Nick

This book is a great introduction to Jean-Michel Basquiat, or, even if one is already familiar with his work and his career it is still a recommended purchase on account of the very good colour reproductions of many paintings/sketches/photos from his short but eventful career.The biography is not overly in-depth, it does cover all the main events of his life and it is very well written, it does not talk down to the reader.I would highly recommend this book, Taschen are becoming a favourite publisher of mine with the basic art series.

ジャン=ミシェル・バスキア 25周年ということで、タッシェン・ジャパンからこちらの日本語版が出ています。こちらもよかったけど、日本語版がより深く作品を理解できたので・・おすすめです。

As Basquait was very much in vogue when I was at art school, he made, amongst others, including Steven Campbell, a deep impression on my work. However over the years I have become distanced from painting, and this opportunity to re-acquaint my self with his unique and colourful approach, and the zeitgeist has been welcomed.

なかなかステキ。もっと生きていて沢山の作品を残して欲しかった。

Factual and interesting