"People were more interested in the phenomena than the art itself. This, combined with the growing interest in collecting art as an investment and the resultant boom in the art market, made it a difficult time for a young artist to remain sincere without becoming cynical"

In this quote, artist Keith Haring is expressing his frustration with the state of the art world throughout his time. He notes that individuals were more fascinated with the spectacle and novelty of art instead of valuing the actual creative worth and meaning behind it. This shallow interest in art was additional fueled by the growing trend of gathering art as a form of investment, causing a booming art market. Haring believes that this environment made it challenging for young artists to preserve their genuineness and authenticity without succumbing to cynicism. In other words, the pressure to develop art exclusively for profit instead of for enthusiasm and expression made it challenging for artists to remain true to their creative vision.