In a Service95 Book Club exclusive, author Jennifer Clement reads two extracts from her memoir, Widow Basquiat – Dua’s Monthly Read for June. The book explores the turbulent relationship between artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and his muse Suzanne Mallouk amid the vibrant chaos of 1980s New York, told by their close friend, Jennifer.
The first extract tells the story behind the creation of Basquiat’s painting Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken and Rice) (1981), while the second recounts his and Suzanne’s visit to the Museum of Modern Art, which he describes as “another white man’s cotton plantation”. Both give a deeper insight the enigmatic figure of the late artist, the process behind his work and the impact this had on their relationship.
Watch Jennifer’s full reading here.
It doesn’t stop there: delve deeper into the world of Widow Basquiat with more from the Service95 Book Club...
WATCH Dua’s interview with the author, Jennifer Clement
LISTEN to the interview on the go with the new Service95 Book Club podcast
BOOKMARK the novels that inspired Widow Basquiat
READ one of Jennifer’s poems that reveals her true friendship with Suzanne
LEARN more about the meaning behind one of Basquiat’s most iconic works
DISCOVER what it’s like to love someone suffering from addiction
