Jean-Michel Basquiat: Batman Plate
Produced by Ligne Blanche in Paris in collaboration with the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, this Limoges porcelain plate features a detail from Basquiat’s 1983 work on paper Batman, for which he drew upon the rich history of comic books. Two bat-shaped figures hover in the composition’s upper right corner, perhaps referencing the titular superhero’s summoning signal. But the artist proceeds to complicate simplified representations of good and evil; though they wear halos, the bat symbols are rendered in sharp, jagged lines with beady red and white eyes, and are attended by two figures who sport demonic horns and tails. Combining expressive linework with compelling symbolism, Basquiat filters his own internal conflicts through a reference to one of pop culture’s most enduring icons.
Producer: Ligne Blanche
Year: 2012
Material: Limoges porcelain
Dimensions: 8 1/2 × 8 1/2 inches (21.5 × 21.5 cm)
Care: Hand wash
