Lethe, I wrote this in reply to your great essay, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. So here is my response, a long one. It doesn’t fit into the damn comment box, so here it is on my blog, grouped by the theme/topic I found throughout your essay.
On art & reframing of context
I agree with you – art is not the invention of an object. Art is the expression that captures the perception of the artist towards that object at that moment. In doing so, the work is imbued with the artist’s life state. Such work leaves us in awe because the better the expression, the clearer/easier it is for us to EXPERIENCE that imbued life state.
In doing so, great work of art inspires.
Reflecting on the narrative of Basquat
My immediate emotion after watching the film was sadness.
How is it that a certain narrative comes to define a person’s life?
This is the nature of all phenomena: From thought comes intent. From intent, action. From action, interaction. From interaction, causes are made. From causes, effect/impact on the world.
Simply, our life is our ultimate work of art. That Basquiat’s life inspires sadness is proof that his mind works in that plane. It is very sad indeed because it is unnecessarily so.
Success, Fame and the price you pay.
“Success breeds disappointment, because success and failure are two sides of the same coin” – I disagree with this. I think we are not disappointed by our failure, but rather by our expectation to succeed being unfulfilled.
Basquiat aspires to be famous. He works his ass off to be famous. I imagine that he expect that if he does so, fame will follow. And if fame arrives, happiness will, too. But what if success didn’t come as he wish it to be? What if he is not famous? Well, in this case, he does, but at what cost?
People who base their happiness and “success” on how many of these expectation will materialize will live very unhappy life. Because we don’t control every single event that happens around us. It is such a dangerous and subtle trap. it is like having a hole in your attic. From this hole came one mouse to steal your food. And from where one came, many will follow.
This is why you say from Fame comes Isolation, Impact on one’s character, beliefs and mindset and the terrible fate that awaits the successful artist who can not handle the weight of his own glory.
But the weight and devastation comes not from the fame. It comes from the subtle trap.
So here is a little bit of my buddhism dump. Hope you like it 
Cause and Effect
Those who yearn for fame and success,
believing it will bring them happiness
is like an unlit candle who yearn to be
the warmth and illumination in a cold dark room.Warmth and illumination
are simply by-products of FIRE.
When the fire is alight,
warmth and illumination will follow.This is the law of cause and effect.
It is very simply, plain common sense.
So focus on the cause, not on the effect.
and light the fire within.In this way, come what may,
success or no success,
fame or no fame,
acceptance or rejection,The artist will retain his beauty.
the work will retain his originality.
and his life, his ultimate work of art,
will be sublime.