Video of Lavrov wearing Basquiat’s shirt, who is the American artist ‘honored’ by the Russian minister

In the garden, with T-shirt and shorts, intent on studying the cards in view of the G20 of Bali. That is how Sergej Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, 72, was shown in a video shot by the spokesperson Maria Zakharova to deny the news of his hospitalization. An unusual and unprecedented curtain organized by the two, best known for the harsh and threatening tones on the war in Ukraine and on the choices of its allies. Lavrov posted the video on Telegram in one scenario of relaxation and informality never seen before. And many did not miss that the shirt he wore is by Jean-Michel Basquiatone of the most important exponents of American graffiti that together with Keith Haring and Andy Warhol made American pop art famous all over the world. A combination that for the Russian with its always bright tones on propaganda has made eyes roll.

The shirt in question is blue with a stylized crown in yellow, one of Basquiat’s typical graffiti symbols. To dispel any doubt there is also the name of the artist in large letters. We cannot explain the reason for this choice by the Russian foreign minister who before now had only been seen wearing an impeccable suit and tie. He may simply be an admirer of the artist. The subject of the crown in Basquiat’s artwork is often repeated. From the pages of his notebooks powerfully emerge images and symbols that recur throughout his production. Among these there is the three-pointed crown, symbol of royalty and heroism. For some art critics, the crown is also the symbol of “recognition of the African American ‘kings’ and ‘queens’ who populate the history prior to his and who also want to be signs not to forget to take the place that belongs to people, such as him, otherwise marginalized in a fundamentally white society ”. The work of him is also manifest of the fight for social justice and against racism.

Who is Jean-Michel Basquiat

The author of the work printed on Lavrov’s shirt is Jean-Michel Basquiat. Born in New York on December 22, 1960, he was an American writer and painter, one of the most important exponents of American graffiti, managing to bring, together with Keith Haring, this movement from metropolitan streets to art galleries. His is a troubled story. Born in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and an American mother of Puerto Rican descentsince his early years he has shown interest in art under the suggestion of cartoons.

In 1968 he was hit by a car and forced to have an operation on his spleen that kept him in hospital for a long time. His mother gave him a anatomy book that he read with voracity and that would have inspired part of his artistic production. Considered a child prodigy, he studies at a school for gifted children. It is there that in 1977, at the age of 17, he befriends Al Diaz, a young graffiti artist who worked on the walls of Jacob Riis, in Manhattan. The two combine their skills by starting to produce graffiti on the streets of New York by signing themselves as SAMO, acronym for “Same Old Shit” (trad. “same old shit”), propagating with spray can and permanent marker hermetic, revolutionary and sometimes senseless ideas, such as “SAMO © SAVES IDIOTS” (SAMO © saves the idiots). The friendship will end and Basquiat will also prevent the use of their common signature.

In 1981 he participated in the New York / New Wave retrospective, together with other artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Kenny Scharf. The moment of maximum artistic evolution he lived between 1983 and 1985 when he began to collaborate with his idol, the artist Andy Warhol. His works are made of crude, childish and stylized images, to which are added words that are often deleted. In 1984, together with Andy Warhol and Francesco Clemente, he begins a series of collaborations, of “six-handed” paintings commissioned by Bruno Bischofberger. Together they will produce over one hundred works whose manifesto eloquently presents the two artists as protagonists of a boxing match. Boxing was a way of life for Basquiat, and he often compared the art to a ring to fight on. He reacted badly to the death of his friend Andy Warhol from whom he never recovered by slipping into the vortex of drugs. He died in New York from acute mixed drug poisoning on August 12, 1988.

Zakharova’s video

In the video published by Lavrov on Telegram and filmed by Maria Zakharova probably with her smartphone, the voice of the off-screen protavoce asking in an amused voice: “Serghej Viktorovich, excuse me, but everyone here writes that you have been hospitalized”. The serious response of the minister in T-shirt and Bermuda shorts is ready: “For about ten years now, our president has also been written that he is ill. It’s not exactly a new game to politics ”. And then the stick: “Western reporters are more correct“. Lavrov is in Indonesia to participate in the G20 summit to replace President Putin who has decided not to take part in the event in person. The Associated Press agency in the morning, citing three Indonesian officials, had reported the hospitalization of the Russian foreign minister for heart problems.

The minister takes the opportunity to report on the progress of activities at the G20 headquarters. “We have a series of interventions tomorrow. We will adopt the final resolution. He has just called the Indonesian foreign minister, who is in charge of the ministerial activities. Our experts are present on the spot and the minister on the phone keeps everything under control, ”Lavrov informed.

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Rossella Grasso