Ryan Gander
Basquiat
15 Oct — 29 Nov 2008

There are two components to Ryan Gander’s work Basquiat (2008). The first is a film that re-stages a scene from Julian-Schnabel’s 1996 movie Basquiat. The scene occurs roughly two-thirds of the way through the movie, where Basquiat cycles through a park to see Andy Warhol. In the previous scene a journalist questions Basquiat politely but with obvious hostility, about Basquiat’s and his admirers exploitation of his supposed status of outsider. By way of contrast, the friendship with Warhol is the ultimate piece of insiderism. It might then be possible to read the cycle scene as the journey through the outsider-insider pole that structures the film. Basquiat’s attire, with a cardigan thrown over pyjamas, suggests that he doesn’t care – things just happen. But of course, driven by ambition and fuelled by drugs, he does care, intensely.

-Ryan Gander, Basquiat or I cant dance to it, one day - but not now, one day I will but that will be it, but you wont know and that will be it, 2008

Images:
Basquiat or I cant dance to it, one day - but not now, one day I will but that will be it, but you wont know and that will be it
2008
single channel video

I dont blame you, or, When we made love you used to cry and I love you like the stars above and Ill love you till I die
2008
bronze sculpture

Errata tossed back to the horizon
2008
black and white photograph

Investigation #91- The anitdote made real (in a very real sense)
2008
Laser cut poster

Both before and after, I had to write your obituary
2008
newsprint, framed
A collaboration with Bedwyr Williams

Like riding on the handlebars of a blind mans bike
2008
coloured balls spelling out Google in Braille

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