KEITH HARING, FREE SOUTH AFRICA 1, FREE SOUTH AFRICA SERIES, SIGNED LITHOGRAPH, EDITION OF 60, 1986
Keith Haring’s lithograph Free South Africa 1 is from his Free South Africa series from 1986 and shows an image of a large black figure with a rope around its neck. Using a simplified visual language of recognisable symbols, this print is an example of how Haring used his playful figurative style to tackle social injustices around the world, notably racism and apartheid in South Africa.
Both figures in the print appear to be in a struggle, with the rope around the larger figure’s neck morphing into a serpent head that eats the small, white figure. The presence of radiating lines and dashes work to bring movement to the image, conveying the rage of the black figure and worry of the white figure who is about to be eaten.
Printing and distributing around 20,000 poster versions of this print in New York City in 1986, Haring worked tirelessly to mobilise support against apartheid. Though there are countless examples of Haring’s screen prints on the market, his lithographs are rarer. Haring produced many large editions throughout his career, but each is characterised by the careful precision and vibrancy of the one that comes before it, demonstrating his mastery of the process.
ABOUT KEITH HARING
Known for his bold graphic style and playful sense of humour, Keith Haring is one of the most influential and adored artists of the 20th century.
Born in Pennsylvania, in 1958, Haring was a talented draughtsman as a child and developed his cartoonish style at the hands of his father and the work of Walt Disney and Dr Seuss. However it would take some time before he realised he could marry this kind of drawing with being a fine artist. Upon graduating from high school he enrolled in a commercial art school before realising he had little interest in pursuing a career as an illustrator or graphic designer. After dropping out of college he joined the hippie movement and hitchhiked across the country where he made anti-Nixon t-shirts to pay for food and Grateful Dead tickets. Learn more about Keith Haring.
