From the gritty dust of the 1970s arose an underground art scene in New York City that was quite fertile throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Before the over-commercialization of Times Square, art from the street was starting to be legitimately recognized. Here are just two who made their mark from that residual dust.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010) is directed by Tamra Davis, and appears on Independent Lens. Davis pays tribute to her long-departed friend by telling his amazing story. Basquiat started out as a young graffiti artist who was often homeless. His paintings are highly original, even when alluding to the famous works of others. A New York darling, Jean-Michel caught the eye of critics, collectors and his peers, including the renowned Andy Warhol.
The Hardcore Collection: The Films of Richard Kern
The Hardcore Collection: The Films of Richard Kern (2000) contains the very provocative short films of Richard Kern, which were filmed from the mid 1980s through the late 1990s. His casting includes the likes of Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, Sonic Youth and more. Depictions of sex, nudity, family strife, violence and other antisocial behavior can all be found within the collection. The films were often intended to push the boundaries, not to mention people’s buttons.
