Growing #1 1988

Keith Haring made this, 'Growing #1' with a screen printing technique using flat, bold colors. It's all yellow and red and a bit of green, like pure saturated freedom. I can just see Haring making this, dancing around the studio with the music blasting. The red figures are stacked on top of each other, growing upwards, each one a slightly different shape and posture. It's like a tower of people, maybe a symbol of community, maybe of personal evolution – who knows? Haring leaves it open, suggesting an attitude, a kind of energy. Look at the simple lines he used to suggest movement, those little bursts of energy around the figures, echoing Matisse. Haring was part of a vibrant conversation with other artists, riffing on ideas and pushing boundaries. It’s so open and generous; its directness is what makes it so poignant.