What do keith haring symbols mean

Today, The Icons portfolio still remains one of the most sort after series created in his short life. Keith Haring is recognized for his exclusive use of black and white, and typical use of primary colors. This portfolio is no different, with each image bold, simple and easily recognizable as his.

A dog, a baby, a monster, a devil and an angel, these icons form a type of glyph that could be read like an urban, tribal language. Made in , these screen prints are authenticated by the Keith Haring Estate and are part of an edition of 25 that follow the classic pop art motif Haring is known for. Ask the students why they think Haring would want to paint on tarps. Together, discuss how Haring painted these pieces: while they were hanging?

On the floor? What colors did he use? Let the students point out the symbols they have already seen. Ask them to describe the images they might recognize in slides 10 and 11 and explain that Haring used lines and symbols to create his own language.

At this point, explain that the students will create their own visual language by using lines to describe emotions, creating a set of their own picture symbols and working together to create group murals on tarps. Summary Graffiti art its purpose and meaning Chalk drawings Materials the great variety Haring used. Video Presentation emphasis on materials The video presentation will introduce Haring's symbols, style and materials. They should also note all the places they see Haring images graffiti, art galleries, murals, drawings, floors, walls, T-shirts, sculptures, buttons.

After the presentation, have the students discuss their findings. Ask the students what they think of the subway drawings. Keith Haring brought his admiration of graffiti art and his love for drawing together in these drawings. Explain that whenever he saw a sheet of black paper used to cover the old advertisements, Haring would get off the subway car and draw with chalk on the paper. Some people considered them graffiti and, as the students saw, Haring was even arrested.

No matter what media he used, Haring used lines and symbols to create his own language. At this point the Educator will explain that the students will create their own language by using lines to describe emotions, developing a set of personal symbols and working together to create group murals on tarps.

Line and Expression Discussion The students will then return to the studio to begin the Line and Expression art activities. Ask the students to sit on the floor. Explain that in all of his work, Haring used line.

Sometimes he drew with marker, other times with chalk. Haring's lines were usually of uniform thickness, but the thickness of line can be changed to affect the expression of the line.

Line can have sound. Show the students two line cards and ask which is louder. What would the line sound like? Line can have different movements. Show the students two line cards and ask which is faster? What animal would move like this? Together, the students will examine how line can express feelings. Ask which one of a group of lines is happy. How does this one feel? Upside-down figures Human figures depicted upside-down are usually B-boys and B-girls, the dancers of hip-hop, doing the iconic move in which they spin on their head.

Figures contorting in backbends or jumips are probably also depictions of break dancers. Radiant baby The crawling baby, with lines emanating from around its body, is known as the "radiant baby"—Keith Haring's main tag, logo, or the symbol that represented him. Haring explained the nature of this symbol as representing youthful innocence, purity, goodness, and potential. Three-eyed face Usually represents greed. Pigs Represents capitalism and consumerism. Pink triangle Not only a symbol for Keith Haring himself, but also a symbol of gay pride and identification.

Monsters, snakes, and bats These scary presences in Haring's work generally connote hellishness, fear, horror, or death. Stairs or stepped pyramids Entrances, usually to places of fear or terror. Dollar signs Capitalism, greed, and money Disney characters, e. Generally, they refer to mass media consumption and popular culture. Figures with holes in their bodies Haring notes in his journals that he first imagined a figure with a hole in his body just after the assassination of John Lennon.

There is no strict symbolism here, but this figure may suggest violence and spirituality. The characters in Haring's work; generally, they represent people and players in society. The "family dog" tag is, aside form the radiant baby, Haring's most famous tag. A reference to organized religion, of which Haring was extremely skeptical and generally regarded with suspicion. Usually represents power and authority. Refer to an ancient past and are also connected to the hieroglyphic-life movements of the "electric boogie" in hip-hop dance, which Haring often depicted his figures performing.

Represent a kind of cosmic energy that can take on many forms.