A review on Jean-Michel Basquiat's post-graffiti paintings in terms of creative ego and rebellion in art

ABSTRACT General aim of this research is to semiotically analyze the unprecedented graffiti art of Jean Michel Basquiat and his own life's tale through his social, political, economical and cultural tendencies. Also, it is argued that his art depicts high level abstractive comprehension of childs paintings, his manifestation of creative ego in his art, and rebellious qualities of his work. For this reason, concepts like creativity, ego, creative ego are adressed in a detailed and meticulous fashion, and after, history of rebellious movement in postmodern art had been delivered. As much as his own life's tale, It is vital to recognize the Afro-American youth subculture and graffiti culture that he belongs to. Therefore, getting to know of these cultures that Jean Michel Basquiat developed a sense of belongingness to, also requires to be familiar with that community's many activities and interests, every part that plays a role in their lifestyle. The comprehension that contains every social tendency and fact, which stays behind the curtains of daily life, has semiotic value, and all components that create culture, acts as an indicator; thus especially analytical techniques of visual semiotics have been imposed. Contexts that constituted by artist in his art, structural and cognitive relation that built, matchups and symbolisations, figure, time and space construction, every dynamic in his mind that affected full and empty spaces in his art, his mental images and thought systems, beliefs, abstracting techniques, resemblences, all messages that has conveyed through his words and intellect, are seen as the characteristics of his genuine artictic expression. It has also been proved by semiotical analyzing techniques that the artist's postgrafiti art is a pristine way of communication. Rather than delivering a perfect analysis of his work, It is intended to reveal Jean Michel Basquiat's cultural and artistic capacity, the conflicts in his mind, his life and thought style through the lenses of Creative Ego and Rebellion concepts in investigative art, and offer critical perspectives.The absence of any academic work in our country that discuss the Artist and his art with the concepts that has been talked above, exhibits the value of this research in terms of literature. Key Words: Creative Ego,Rebellion, Jean Michel Basquiat, Art of Grafitti, Visual Culture, Semiotic Analysis.