Meditating with Keith Haring (1958-1990)

Three metal panels, open. In the manner of the ancient triptychs which adorned the high altars in churches, the North American creator Keith Haring ended the intense cycle of his artistic production with this singular work. Of the nine copies made, two will be entrusted to churches, the Saint-Jean-le-Divin cathedral, in New York (United States) and the Saint-Eustache church, in Paris.

A moving gesture on the part of this man who died shortly before his 32nd birthday, in the darkest years of the AIDS epidemic. The time of its beginnings is far away. That of a childhood spent in a fairly conservative family in a small town in Pennsylvania. That of his learning too, while he drew with white chalk on the walls of the New York subway.

Over the years spent in the artistic cauldron that is the “Big Apple”, the man has gradually found his own style, coming from the world of wild graffiti and advertising visuals. His characters, drawn in a few simple lines, always release an overflowing vital energy, occupying all the space they can grasp.

The same is true of this work. In the center, an adoration of Christ can be seen, with this “radiant baby” who made him known. A heart, a cross, a few angels and tears complete the apocalyptic triptych, between heaven and earth. The time of cynicism, distrust and revolt of this man in a hurry seems to be over. All that remains is the deep engraving of a Love which does not pass away.