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You may not have heard of Banksy before yesterday, but his fame is legend in street culture around the world and it’s growing fast thanks to a new film, which screened at Hot Docs in Toronto last week. Rumour (and a few tagged building sides) suggests he’s also been roaming the streets of Toronto in person.
Banksy is a stencil artist. He creates his work on the street. Like graffiti, but different. Some would say he is a vandal. (One of the measures of his work is how long it lasts before it’s painted over or buffed away by authorities.)
He is more than an artist though. His work is ironic, offering anarchic narratives – he has something to say and the message is as clear as any advertising campaign.
In Banksy’s own words:
“The people who truly deface our neighbourhoods are the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff. They expect to be able to shout their message in your face from every available surface, and you’re never allowed to answer back. Well they started the fight and the wall is the weapon of choice to hit them back . . .”
Philosophically, there are shades of Gossage. Practically, he’s an underground phenomenon who may just be well on his way to becoming a part of the very establishment he eschews.
Anyone seen the film yet?
Soleil
May 13, 2010 @ 10:02 am
I saw ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ two nights ago. Admittedly, I went to see it not knowing what it was all about. Also, I have never heard of Banksy. Up until I watched that doc, I’ve only known of Fairey and his infamous Obey posters [You can spot a bunch of them around Queen St.]
In any case, it was extremely entertaining.
One of my many favourite parts from the doc was when Banksy said the following [appertaining to Guetta]:
“I used to encourage everyone to make art…I don’t really do that anymore.”
The doc was not all about Banksy. Certainly, it bolstered his work, but it also singled out Guetta as a fraud (rightfully so) and a pompous pinhole, who sold millions of dollars worth of “art”.
Again, ’twas entertaining.
Leilah
May 13, 2010 @ 10:18 am
Gah! So much to say!
First, It’s kind to tough for me to define my favourite element of Banksy’s work. It’s rare to see an artist of any medium make placement itself the art form. The joke or message is amplified by where he opts to stencil, using the markings or architectural details that are already there. Media buyers take note. ;)
Also, humour. Dude is just plain funny. Check out this prank he played at Disneyland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkZoC6dwRqE