Anti-Nuclear Rally 1982

Keith Haring created this stark image in 1982 to express his opposition to nuclear weapons. His background as a street artist made him especially sensitive to the public role of art, and its potential to address urgent political issues. Haring’s cartoonish style and use of bold lines make this a striking and accessible image, reminiscent of graffiti art of New York subways. The upper panel depicts the horrors of nuclear fallout, with a baby crawling amidst mushroom clouds. The lower panel shows figures protesting against the atom, with a crossed-out circle symbolising nuclear disarmament. Made during the height of the Cold War, Haring's image reflected widespread fears about nuclear annihilation. This period also saw the rise of powerful anti-nuclear movements across the USA and Europe. Haring was associated with many countercultural movements, and his art often served as a commentary on the social structures of his time. To understand Haring’s work better, scholars might look at the records of political protest movements, reflect on the artist's social milieu, and examine his other works. The meaning of this seemingly simple image is contingent on its political and social context.