Keith Haring

André Heller, Vienna
Galerie Getreidegasse, Salzburg
Christie's, London, June 28, 2012, lot 296
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

Munich, Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung; Kunsthal Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Keith Haring: The Political Line (Gegen den Strich), May 1 - August 30, 2015, Munich; September 19, 2015- February 8, 2016, Rotterdam, cat. no. 116, p. 152, illustrated in colour

This work is in very good condition. The upper and bottom edges are deckled. On the verso the paper is hinged to the backboard. There is a light circle black accretion on the reverse of the work. Framed under glass.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Untitled (Luna Luna A Poetic Extravaganza), completed in 1986 towards the end of Keith Haring's life, is an image that represents the precarious nature of the artist's life as a homosexual in post-war America. While Haring would not be diagnosed with AIDS until 1988, the preceding years were marked by deep concern for the disease's imminence as well as the artist's sexuality. This vulnerability is portrayed in the drawing by the miniaturised figure being dangled dangerously by a nude male figure. With the male genitalia exposed and a figure hanging on for dear life, the image may very well be representative of the gay community's fight against AIDS, death and homophobia in the 1980s.

Executed in bold, fluid lines in a minimal colour palette, Untitled (Luna Luna A Poetic Extravaganza) is a classic example of Keith Haring's graffiti style that brought him tremendous fame and success. Often working on the streets, it is a known fact that the artist affords himself only one chance to perform – he never corrects himself. The raw energy of these works put Haring alongside masters like Basquiat who worked in the same political and social environment as Haring. The caption "Luna" – implying the moon, is fitting as the moon denotes the end of the day, analogous to the twilight of one's life which Haring, sadly, loomed ahead. "The odds are very great and, in fact, the symptoms already exist," he wrote in 1987 about his initial symptoms of AIDS. "I know in my heart that it is only divine intervention that has kept me alive this long."