Keith Haring's Blueprint Drawings 1 is a multi-panel composition layered with symbolism; it captures the chaotic intersection of violence, oppression, control, and societal breakdown. The narrative doesn't follow a linear path; instead, it weaves a disjointed sequence of harrowing moments that feel like a desperate struggle for survival in a collapsing world.
The panels are charged with tension - aggressive, dog-like creatures relentlessly pursue human figures. These dogs, a recurring motif in Haring's universe, stand as menacing emblems of authoritarian power. As the figures race, fall or cower in panic, the urgency of their flight intensifies; the jagged, frantic lines around the dogs and figures amplify this sense of fear and distress.
One particularly striking panel shows faceless, suspended human figures - symbols of torture and execution. Their facelessness speaks to dehumanization, to the relentless, unforgiving nature of social and political forces that render individuals invisible. This imagery echoes the grim fate of those living with HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.
In another panel, a figure is pinned down, its body language screaming oppression - an all-too-familiar gesture of police brutality or state control. It's a subtle but potent commentary on how those deemed "other" were violently subdued.
And then, there's also the eerie intrusion of UFOs hovering, ominous symbols of external surveillance and control. Their beams, resembling weapons or tracking devices, cut through the scene like an unavoidable threat from above - through this, Haring underscores and critiques the ever-watchful eye of authority.

• Ask a question
• Buy