A monumental mural by Keith Haring (1959-1990) has been discovered, restored and newly unveiled in Amsterdam, making it the largest mural by Haring in Europe, according to Juxtapox Magazine. The mural is a whimsical "sea monster" ridden by a figure in recognizable iconography for Haring, painted in white. The mural was created in 1986 on the former depot of the Stedelijk Museum but lay concealed beneath aluminum plates for 30 years, explained Widewalls magazine. The mural was made in the same year as his solo show at Stedelijk Museum and measures 12 x 15 meters.
The resurfaced mural was unveiled on Monday, June 18, 2018 during a press conference at the historic Markt Kwartier (Food Market) with fanfare, according to Juxtapox. The mural's preservation and restoring to the public eye was spearheaded by graffiti artist Aileen Middel aka Mick La Rock, who was in attendance, as well as Stedelijk Museum Director Jan Willem Sieburgh; Vroom & Varossieau gallerist Oliver Varossieau and Director of the Keith Haring Foundation in New York. To see images, visit www.juxtapoz.com.
The quest to save and revitalized the mural was four years in the making, according to Widewalls Magazine. Mick la Rock sought to preserve the mural after the building was sold and demolition was part of the possible plan, according to Widewalls.
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Keith Haring mural is unveiled in Amsterdam this week, making it the largest Haring mural in Europe. Courtesy Juxtapox Magazine.
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Haring's mural can only be seen from afar as the property is not accessible to the public, reported Widewalls. In other recent Haring art news in Amsterdam, a velum canopy Haring made for Stedelijk Museum was restored and exhibited from October 11, 2017 to June 3, 2018 in the museum. Haring made the canopy for the museum's grand hallway on the occasion of his solo show there in 1986, according to the museum. Click here to see the work.
In New York City, Keith Haring's art is currently on view in the group show "Art in the Open: Fifty Years of Public Art in New York" and "New York at its Core: 400 Years of NYC History" at the Museum of the City of New York. "Art in the Open" remains on view through September 23, 2018 while "New York at its Core" is on long term view. Haring's art is also part of the group show "An Incomplete History of Protest: Selections from The Whitney's Collection, 1940-2017" at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The show is on view through August 27, 2018.
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