Monkey Man 1983

Keith Haring made this ‘Monkey Man’ in 1983, and it's like a jolt of pure, unadulterated energy right to the eyeballs, isn’t it? It’s a drawing, stark black lines on a white background, a simplicity that screams rather than whispers. Look at how Haring uses line – it’s bold, decisive, almost cartoonish, but don’t let that fool you. There’s a real sophistication in how he captures movement with just a few strokes. Notice the thick, confident outline of the figure, how it loops and twists, suggesting not just a body, but a force, a vibe. The little radiating lines around the figure? They’re like an aura, an emanation of energy. It’s raw, immediate, you can practically feel the marker on the paper. Haring reminds me a little bit of Dubuffet actually, they both had this knack for turning the everyday into something extraordinary. And maybe that’s what art’s all about, opening your eyes to new possibilities, one crazy monkey at a time.