Pop Shop 1 1987

This print, Pop Shop 1, is by Keith Haring. It’s all about the way flat colours can pop and sizzle together. Imagine Haring there, maybe with some music blasting, carefully applying each colour in flat planes, outlined in black. Look at that yellow figure, arms up like they’re being born, or surrendering, or just plain dancing, like the Matisse dancers! And then there’s the red figure jabbing at a shape in its belly. What’s up with that? Who are these folks? Haring doesn’t tell us—he just gives us these lively, colourful, suggestive shapes, all bumping up against each other. I wonder if Haring thought about Matisse much, or maybe Leger? Or maybe he was just thinking about the street, and the energy of the city. Either way, he makes me wanna move!