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Documentaries on the New York Underground Scene

NEWS | May 7, 2020
The New York art scene is one of the most dynamic in the world. Here's our selection of three documentaries that will teleport you to the streets of Brooklyn, amidst the city's most celebrated icons.

Keith Haring, Le Petit Prince de la Rue ("Keith Haring, Prince of the Streets")

A cult figure in New York's queer community in the 80s, Keith Haring started out doing graffiti in the subway. It wasn't long before he'd developed a vibrant symbolic world that he splashed on canvasses, T-shirts, public property and nightclubs. Incredibly moving and resolutely Pop, this documentary takes us through the prolific career of an artist taken from us too soon. Indeed, Haring was only 31 when he died — a loss made real with testimonies by his close friends, like artists Kenny Scarf and Yoko Ono. The film also traces Haring's commitment to political causes, using his artistic talent to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and apartheid.

Keith Haring, Le petit prince de la rue (2007) is available on-demand on the Films & Documentaries site (French).

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

Patti Smith started shaking up New York's music scene when she began singing at the legendary CBGB. Her album Horses, released in 1975, elevated her to the status of an underground rock icon. From there on out the success continued, until Smith retired in the 80s. She made her comeback in 1996 with Gone Again, prompting artist Steven Sebring to shoot a documentary on the rockstar. Filming would take eleven years, and the final product shows us the legendary Patti Smith recapping her incredible road to stardom. The mother of punk shares touching stories and reveals the depth of her character — an artist, poet, activist, and devoted mother.

Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2007) is available on-demand and at Arte.

Basquiat: La Rage Créative

Jean-Michel Basquiat revolutionized the art world with his street-art inspired paintings. Immersed in the trendy post-punk haunts he frequented, this documentary follows the astonishing rise of this Brooklyn native. Delving into the creative urgency of this inventive artist and his work, it reflects on the decisive events that marked Basquiat's career. Among them were his introductions to figures like gallerist Annina Noseï, who revealed him to the world; not to mention King of Pop Andy Warhol, who would become Basquiat's close friend and colleague.

Basquiat: La rage créative (2017) is available on Arte.

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