THE INFLUENCE

Keith Haring Annie Leibovitz (1986)

The initial concept of Project KH originates from the 1986 portrait of Keith Haring by photographer Annie  Leibovitz.
The photograph captures a nude body-painted Haring against a similarly painted set.

This particular photograph features Haring's signature stylistic thick, vibrant tribal lines containing humorous and thought provoking imagery.
     Haring's stylistic black and white imagery which features within the Leivovitz portrait is iconic in modern pop-culture and has been interpreted and used for major vibrant  fashion designers  such as Tommy Hilfiger, Jeremy Scott, Adidas, Zara, Patricia Feild and Nicholas Kirkwood.
In 2010 the popular recording artist Rihanna featured in one particular scene within the music video for the single 'Rude Boy' a clear and direct influence from the Leibovitz photograph, where in which Rihanna is seen in a white unitard printed with a Haring inspired design against a similarly patterned background.

Stills captured from Rude Boy performed by Rihanna (2010)

The resemblance between Leibovitz photograph of Haring and the scenes from the 'Rude Boy' music video is clear, however it must be stated that the original concept and visual inspiration for this Project was adopted from the 1986 portrait of Haring. 

The artistic content of the photograph by Annie Leibovitz serves as the initial and visual inspiration for this Project, further research into Keith Haring's life and his other works also serve to be a great part of this Project, as not only for a direct visual connection between Haring's work and the upcoming dance film, but also to the theoretical and social commentary that shall be featured within the Project.

Keith Haring in his Pop Shop, Photograph by Charles Dolfi-Michels 

Keith Haring (1956-1990), was an artist and social activist who worked predominately within the 1980's. After moving to New York from Pennsylvania he found himself connecting to and responding to many issues faced within the New York street culture. 

Haring featured many themes throughout his work including concepts of love, sex, birth, death and war.

Haring's work was highly political and due to his distribution and increasing celebrity like status his work enabled access of his art to the world. 

He began his interest in art as a teenager and attended art schools in both Pittsburgh and New York, however his status propelled as he started drawing on blank advertisement boards on the New York Subway stations with chalk, which later developed into commissioned murals and artworks, and the continued to venture into clothing and merchandise via the Pop Shop.

Haring's artwork has become iconic and is still recognised today, and now is arguably one of America's most iconic and popular modern artists alongside the likes of Jean Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. 

For more information and Haring's official Biography please visit  haring.com.

Sources:

• figure1: Leibovitz, A., 1986. Keith Haring [Photograph] Available at < www.artbrokerage.com/artist/Annie-Leibovitz/Keith-Haring-1986-33075> [Accessed 29 December 2010]
• figure 2 Screen-captures taken from: Rude Boy Music Video Performed by Rihanna © 2010 The Island Def Jam Music Group. Available at  <www.youtube.com/watch?v=e82VE8UtW8A>
• figure 3: Dolfi-Michels, C., Date unknown. Untitled [Photograph]  Available at <www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00244/4851248_244597a.jpg > [Accessed 29 December 2010]