Basquiat: A Graphic Novel (Graphic Lives)

A must for any fan of Basquiat

This is a beautiful biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of my favourite artists. Parisi has used key colours in wondrous ways to wander throughout Basquiat's life, as told through the voices of his father, a former agent, a former lover, and others. His life is told in a jazzy, free-flowing sensibility that, to me, perfectly matches Basquiat's life and art. Aspects of Basquiat's life that are perhaps not very attractive, for example his vanity, drug abuse, and flip ways, are on display in ways that are just as well put as the rest of this book is. The colours sting, in a great way, while Parisi's style of writing and storytelling is just as beautiful as his drawing and painting. This is one of the best biographical graphic novels that I've ever had the pleasure to read.

Those who love Basquiat's art style will want to read this one. For those looking for inspiration or philosophy behind his work... those might come up disappointed. For while there was a desire to be counterculture and question societal values via his art during his early days, the book seems to indicate that Basquiat in his latter career stage was obsessed with fame. This led him down a few crooked roads. This book also sheds light on those who tried to take advantage of Basquiat, the racism he faced and how the art world works in general. While I love the historical side of this book, I find the Basquiat's story not to be as unique as I was expecting. He was a talent that got lost in drugs and booze... became taken over with fame and overwork due to the overwhelming influence of people who had no interest in him. The book is an interesting read, though. Recommended for though in love with anything that has to do with art and similar creative endeavours.