New York, April 30, 2021
Switzerland's best known newspaper Neue Züricher Zeitung ran a long article on Al Diaz today titled "His best school friend, the world-famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, has been dead for a long time. But Al Diaz's career is only now taking off".
Susanna Petrin discusses how Al Diaz and Jean-Michel Basquiat turned the phrase "same old shit" into their famous SAMO moniker, parted ways not long after with Jean-Michel Basquiat becoming the celebrated darling of the 1980s art scene and Al Diaz disappearing into obscurity. It took some 30 years after Jean-Michel Basquiat's untimely death at the age of 27 that Al Diaz took up his art career again:
"Al Diaz's art is witty and crafty; anagrams that convey everyday philosophy - pasted on walls, signs or canvas. Communication is the most important thing to him, says Al Diaz. At some point, "wet paint" was no longer enough for him; lately, he's been adding subway numbers and signs. Thanks to the G-Train, he lets us know, "We are a recurring disaster." Or the Covid message of the hour: "Please practice social, spiritual and emotional distancing."
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