Widow Basquiat (Canons): A Memoir

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Having previously dated an artist who was completely obsessed with Jean-Michel Basquiat, I was already acquainted with his work and had read quite a few articles on him. I think we can say that his love for Basquiat rubbed on me — hence the gasps and shrieks that still come out of me every time I find a Basquiat in a museum. When I first learnt about this book, I knew I just had to get it. And I am very glad I did… but not for the reason you might be thinking. Widow Basquiat" is a mixture of longer quotes taken from interviews Clement conducted with Mallouk and episodes written in the third person that the author renders in her typical poetic style. The result is a very moving text that portrays the complex relationship between Mallouk and Basquiat and thus allows glimpses into the contradictory character that was Jean-Michel Basquiat. We meet two people who deeply love each other, but who are also two junkies in a toxic relationship - and the whole story unfolds during Basquiat's steep rise to the very top of the international art scene and lasts in all its glorious (and often not-so-glorious) turbulence until his death of a heroin overdose in 1988. But Basquiat did not have all of what it took to survive or to be accepted in the ‘white’ art world like Andy did. He knew he was fighting the racism in the art world with the tools that built it. Whatever he did or said, would and will be used against him; the only way for Basquiat to succeed was to come to a logical conclusion, like Charlie Parker.

Jennifer Clement is the President of PEN International and the first woman to be elected since the organization was founded in 1921. Clement grew up in Mexico City, Mexico. She studied English Literature and Anthropology at New York University and also studied French Literature in Paris, France. She has an MFA from the University of Southern Maine. Yes. When it comes down right to it, this is about money. And all those old white folks in old institutions that guard access to the wealth that only they can access. They set the standards. Warhol, Cy Twombly, Rauschenberg, Schnable, Franz Kline and now Basquiat. Read the entire book in less than 24 hours. I've never been so engulfed in a book as I was in this one. She did however, pose for the Italian artist, Francesco Clemente, who painted several paintings of her, some of which were used in the collaboration between Andy Warhol and Basquiat., at Galerie Bruno Bischofberger in Zurich. She is depicted in Basquiat’s paintings and drawings, “Self Portrait with Suzanne”, “Big Shoes 2”, “Cheese Popcorn” and “Panel of Experts” In the latter two works Basquiat referred to her as Venus. The painting “A Panel of Experts” inspired the name of our consulting company. She has been photographed by Andy Warhol and these photos are in the Andy Warhol Museum Archive.

Each short chapter begins with Clement’s writing as a third person narrator and is followed by text meant to be in Mallouk’s own words. It’s all drawn from Mallouk’s memories as she described them to Clement. The story introduces Mallouk during her abusive childhood, revisits her when she flees to New York, and stays with her through her love affair with Basquiat until his death. The title character is “Suzanne,” “she,” “the girl,” then “I.” When the point of view shifts, so does the tone. As President of PEN Mexico she spoke extensively about the safety of journalists in Mexico and was instrumental in raising the issue and changing the law so that the killing of a journalist became a federal crime. [12] Jennifer Clement, a long time friend of Suzanne's wrote this biography in a reflective and transformative manner. It showed the life of Suzanne growing up, how she met Jean-Michel Basquiat, and their erratic lives together up until his death. The Canongate Prize for New Writing 2001, UK (judged by The Herald, The Sunday Herald, Waterstone's, Channel Four, BBC, and Canongate Books)

Engrossing … Clement offers far more clues to the cryptic symbols which litter his paintings than any art critic could”Widow Basquiat: A Love Story is a biography of Suzanne Mallouk, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s long-time lover and muse, written by their friend Jennifer Clement. Widow Basquiat was first published in 2000 in the U.K. but is only being printed in its first American edition in 2014. Widow Basquiat is about the artist, about Mallouk, and about the indulgent, hedonistic ’80s art world

Hamilton, Geoff; Jones, Brian (2009). "Clement, Jennifer p.68". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Writers and Their Work. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781438129709 . Retrieved 7 April 2011. No doubt Basquiat was a star, but a young star, Like a Young Mike Tyson without, Cus D’Amato. Basquiat had the Don Kings. He dealt with a lot of art dealers and drug dealers, but more so, lots of pimps, gallery pimps.Jennifer Clement bore witness to the glorious, grimy utopia of the 70's and early 80's created from nothing, spitting out geniuses. Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of those artists who tend to vanish behind their own larger-than-life myth: The free-spirited, flamboyant genius who lived fast and died young. Jennifer Clement works against this distorting narrative, and she knows what she's talking about: Not only did she know Basquiat, his girlfriend Suzanne Mallouk has been a friend of hers. Suzanne Mallouk, M.D. is a painter, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in New York City. She is best known for being an East Village artist in the 1980s and for her relationship with Jean-Michel Basquiat. This relationship is portrayed in the book, Widow Basquiat: A Memoir , written by Jennifer Clement. In 2015, Vogue magazine listed Basquiat and Mallouk amongst “ The 21 Most Stylish Art World Couples of All Time.”

I have no doubt that Jean and Suzanne had a deep love for each other, I just wish this book had concentrated on that a little bit more. Prayers for the Stolen, directed by Tatiana Huezo (titled Noche de fuego) and produced by Nicolas Celis and Jim Stark at Pimienta Films was Mexico's entry for the 2022 Oscars. Among many prizes, the film was awarded the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard Award. However…A love story this is not…If you are looking for a heart wrenching love story that will bring tears to your eyes and run home and kiss your significant other… Community College of Baltimore County, Essex - Prayers for the Stolen: selected novel for the Community Book Connection Program 2015–2106Lewis, Miles Marshall (17 July 2001). "Portrait of the Artist's Girlfriend". The Village Voice . Retrieved 1 January 2021. Content Catnip is a quirky internet wunderkammer written by an Intergalactic Space Māori named Content Catnip. Join me as I meander through the quirky and curious aspects of history, indigenous spirituality, the natural world, animals, art, storytelling, books, philosophy, travel, Māori culture and loads more. And I would have loved to be in Basquiat shoes, follow in his footsteps. I’m a bit older now. And that other shoe has fallen. Born in 1960 in Greenwich, Connecticut, Clement moved in 1961 with her family to Mexico City, where she later attended Edron Academy. She moved to the United States to finish high school at Cranbrook Kingswood School, before studying English Literature and Anthropology at New York University. She received her MFA from the University of Southern Maine. [3]