Big Sun 1984

This painting is by Jean-Michel Basquiat and is filled with so much energy, I can almost see him making it. The dominant colour is orange. It is not a single flat tone, but has texture and brushstrokes and over that, there is a network of images and words. It seems like he began with the orange, then added in the details after. It's like he's riffing on maps and diagrams, but the way he layers everything creates a sense of depth. The words "Equator" and "Salt Water" are there, but it's like they’re part of a puzzle. The loose way that he is painting puts me in mind of Cy Twombly. It shows you that artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and responding to each other's ideas.