In the midst of a creative drought, I went to see the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit, Now's the Time, at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Prolific and innovative, Basquiat created thought-provoking pieces which delved into large themes: racism, the urban landscape, personal identity, saints, and heroes. He painted the black American experience ̵ witnessing and remembering what was and is. In novel ways he conveyed reverence.
Basquiat's energy, passion, and pain are palpable. At first glance, a painting might appear guileless, but upon closer examination the work reveals its own complexity, balance, and rhythms like a jazz harmony. Sometimes Basquiat integrated printed words in patterns, collages, and singly for emphasis or misdirection that piqued the viewer's sensibility. As I studied the final pieces in this exhibit, I was filled with creative excitement and I was inspired to return to my own art form, to create verbal montages from fresh perspectives. Keenly aware of the page as my canvas, I began playing with the shape of the lines and the interplay between words and blank space.
In 2018, a couple of years after the Basquiat exhibit, the AGO presented the extraordinary exhibition Infinity Mirrors by dynamic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Kusama's productive career has spanned over sixty years. In addition to paintings and playful sculptures featuring her signature polka dots, this exhibition included six of Kusama's renowned infinity mirror rooms. Inside each of these rooms the ceiling and all four walls are mirrored. Twinkling images repeat endlessly in the views that she has fashioned. The visitor becomes part of the kaleidoscopic surroundings and immersed in the illusion of being suspended in endless space.
Kusama's work evokes joy and a childlike sense of wonder. Thousands of people of all ages flocked to the AGO every day to delight in this other-worldly experience and enchanting originality. Such an inspired spirit!
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