Voice of the Street is a Keith Haring exhibition in London dedicated to his Subway Drawings, the chalk works created in NYC subway stations between 1980 and 1985. Executed in chalk on black paper advertising panels, these works established the visual language that would define Keith Haring’s subway art.
From 1980 to 1985, New York’s subway became Haring’s canvas. Haring sketched thousands of drawings with nothing but white chalk. Most were erased within hours, yet all were designed to be seen, forming what is now recognised as the Keith Haring Subway Drawings series.
Haring called the subway his “laboratory”, a space where he could test ideas in real time, directly engaging with commuters and moving outside institutional approval. Every line, figure and symbol was a message meant for everyone circulating through the city, transcending language, age and background.ll were designed to be seen, forming what is now recognised as the Keith Haring Subway Drawings series.
It’s hard to believe that these posters still exist and all are in very very good condition considering they are all over 40 years old. Having been in private collections and in museums and galleries all over the world, it is quite breathtaking to see these works all in one exhibition in London in a space that actually mimics a NYC subway platform including signage (Uptown Trains, Downtown Trains) and a news video from footage in the 1980’s that shows Haring creating, illegally, these posters on subway wall platforms (and then getting arrested). It’s a fascinating exhibition, it’s just so cruel that Haring passed away at the age of 31 in 1990.This is a must see exhibition whether you are familiar with his work or not. Voice of the Street: Keith Haring’s Subway Drawings is a limited 3 month run.
https://www.mocomuseum.com/exhibitions/london/voice-of-the-street/
Images for Haring way below