Liz Munsell, Greg Tate (ed.): Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation

The catalogue Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation, accompanying the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston exhibition, is as multifaceted and dynamic as its subject. Edited by Liz Munsell and Greg Tate, this robust volume unravels the layers of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artistic world and his role within a transformative cultural era. It positions Basquiat not just as an individual artist but as a pivotal figure in a constellation of intersecting movements reshaping art, music, and performance in 1970s and 1980s New York City.

The book is as much a cultural chronicle as it is an artistic study. It captures the chaotic, electrifying energy of a New York where the boundaries between “high” and “low” art dissolved, and the street became an unregulated gallery. The text delves into the social and cultural exchanges between the Uptown and Downtown scenes—worlds simultaneously divided and united by race, class, and artistic vision. These layers are vividly brought to life through essays that explore the societal forces shaping Basquiat’s era: the collapse of urban economies, the rise of hip-hop, and the cultural syncretism that defined the city’s creative spaces.

The Physicality of Art
Liz Munsell’s essay vividly addresses the tactile, visceral nature of Basquiat’s work. His canvases, described as lyrical memory cabinets, carry the fingerprints of his process, making the act of creation inseparable from the final product. The catalogue emphasizes this physicality, highlighting how his gestures and marks convey as much meaning as the cryptic text and symbols embedded in his works. This focus on the tangible mirrors the raw and immediate qualities of graffiti and street art, connecting Basquiat’s studio practice to his roots on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Shattered Poetics and Lyrical Narratives
Carlo McCormick opens the book with a poetic reflection on Basquiat’s ascent, placing him among a generation of creators who rejected the staid conventions of the gallery system. McCormick’s writing underscores the improvisational, freestyle spirit that defined both Basquiat’s work and the hip-hop culture with which he was intertwined. This “crazy quilt conversation,” as McCormick terms it, brings together disparate voices and aesthetics, creating a dialogue that transcends time and place.

Contributors Who Illuminate and Contextualize
Contributions from J. Faith Almiron, Dako, and Hua Hsu further enrich the catalogue, providing diverse perspectives on Basquiat’s impact and the broader movement he was part of. Their essays address the trauma, inequity, and resilience embodied in the works of Basquiat and his contemporaries. These narratives reveal how the artist’s oeuvre served as both a reflection and a critique of his time, holding up a mirror to a society in flux.

Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation is a vital resource for understanding the intersections of art, culture, and history that defined Basquiat’s world. The book’s layout, which combines essays, archival materials, and high-quality reproductions of Basquiat’s works, invites readers into a richly textured narrative. It not only places Basquiat’s artistry solidly in its context, but it underscores the enduring relevance of the cultural movements he engaged with.

Text: Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo    Fotos Eveline Wilson

Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation

Author: by J. Faith Almiron (Author), Dakota DeVos (Author), Hua Hsu (Author), Carlo McCormick (Author), Liz Munsell (Editor), Greg Tate (Editor), Jean-Michel Basquiat (Artist)
Publisher: MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (May 5, 2020)