The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is set to showcase a rare 125-foot black ink drawing by iconic New York artist Keith Haring. The massive piece, entitled Amsterdam Notes, is one of the largest works Haring created for a museum and was initially created in 1986 for the artist’s exhibition at the Stedelijk. Haring was at the peak of his career at the time, and instead of relying on his celebrated visual motifs like barking dogs or glowing babies, he wanted to create something entirely new for the exhibition.
Now, nearly three decades later, Amsterdam Notes will be on display in the museum’s IMC Gallery alongside two other works from its collection from May 26. The piece features many socio-political themes that Haring’s art so often centered on, including the oppressive power of religion and sexual liberation. However, unlike many of Haring’s smaller works, Amsterdam Notes is not easily reduced to simple messages or stories. It is a spatial composition that seems to be concerned with the act of looking at itself, featuring many-eyed heads, an imploding television, and a ghoulish mirror reflection. The work is also filled with monsters, walking brains, errant limbs, and a fish, which the museum speculates is a playful nod to Haring’s name, which means herring in Dutch.
For art lovers, Amsterdam Notes is a contemporary Bayeux tapestry and a holy grail for Haring fans. Since works on paper are fragile, they cannot be exhibited for long, making this an especially unique opportunity to view the piece. The director of the Stedelijk Museum, Rein Wolfs, commented on the exhibit, saying, “Moments such as this are unique, and happen rarely. But, this summer, the door to the Stedelijk’s treasury is ajar.”
As part of the 1986 Amsterdam exhibition, Keith Haring also spray painted a 40-by-66-foot velum for the show’s floor, as well as a giant sea monster on the museum’s former art storage depot, which is the largest Haring made in Europe. The sea monster was recently revealed and restored in 2018 after being concealed behind aluminum plates for nearly 30 years.
Haring’s work has significantly impacted the art world, particularly in his use of bright colors, bold lines, and pop imagery, which he used to convey messages of social and political activism. Tragically, Haring died of AIDS-related complications in 1990 at just 31 years old. However, his influence on contemporary art and culture continues to this day. Haring’s work has been exhibited all over the world, and his legacy can be seen in the work of countless artists who have been inspired by his bold, colorful, and socially conscious style.
The exhibition of Amsterdam Notes at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is a unique opportunity for fans of Haring’s work to view one of his largest and most significant pieces in person. The exhibit is set to run from May 26 and will include two other works from the museum’s collection. For those unable to attend, the museum has also produced a comprehensive online exhibit that offers a virtual tour of the exhibit, allowing visitors from around the world to experience the work of one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
