I asked for this book for Christmas, going against the age old wisdom of not judging a book by its cover. It looked interesting and the cover reminded me of Just Kids, an excellent book written by Patti Smith.
In fact, the entire book reminded me of Just Kids, and I'm sure I'm not the first person to make that comparison. The story is similar, two young artistic individuals living in New York and navigating art, music, fame, drug addiction, love, infidelity, abuse, self-destruction, and creativity. I would say mostly, I felt that this book was about strength, and where and when we find it.
It follows the early life of Suzanne Mallouk, Jean-Michel Basquiat's great love and his 'widow' (though they never married). Their relationship is unconventional, intense, and wholly unique - at times you might long for the love, respect, and connection they seem to have and at other times you will be thankful you're not caught up in what is an abusive relationship.
To tell the truth, when I first opened Widow Basquiat I was unsure - it does not look or read like your regular old book. It is poetic, brief, and lucid. I particularly enjoyed the way moments are recalled and linked, language is paralleled across chapters, and ideas are echoes subtly throughout the text.
It is an intense read: there is heavy drug use, racial politics, AIDs, physical and mental abuse. Clement has not provided us with a late night easy read - more a tumultuous whirlwind of a book. But it does have a magical quality, that spirit of creativity that makes me want to go and make something. It details the elusive carefree artistic lifestyle I've always felt pulled towards - although I'll take a pass at the not so romantic aspects, aspects that Clement thankfully does not ignore.
If you do buy it (and I think you should, it's a very interesting book) I recommend keeping google open whilst you read unless you have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the international art scene of the time. I searched paintings, people, songs, locations, and ended up in an Andy Warhol-fueled 3 hour internet hole, which is not the most productive way to spend an afternoon.
Clement captures the voices beautifully, imaginatively, and authentically and does not hide the rough realities and flaws. It is an intimate portrait of a highly interesting and devastating relationship, and I wanted to give it to the person next to me as soon as I finished it.
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