ART & COMMERCE

The work itself, though, is something else. Some might argue that Haring could produce so much art because it was all generally the same (the motifs of dance, dogs, hearts, and mutating figures are repeated almost ad nauseum); and they wouldn’t be totally wrong. In fact, its very simplicity is what helped allow Haring to create a mini-industry of mass-produced T-shirts, buttons and books for sale in his own New York store, an idea that must have had Warhol slapping his forehead in exasperation. But after viewing Clausen’s film, whatever one’s opinion is of Haring’s work itself, his drive and determination remains not only impressive but still somehow less crass and money-obsessed than the art of onetime Haring cohort and interviewee David LaChappelle. (Haring’s impressive charity-work resume and generous habit of giving people whole small drawings as autographs certainly helps.) For all the frankness about commerce and popularity here, there is also a refreshing optimism in Haring’s art that one would have a hard time finding in much pop art, before or since.

-Popmatters
Nov 7 2008