Banksy: Artist or Lawbreaker? Art is a persons’ opinion. The definition of art is the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. There is no real definition for what is beautiful or appealing to the human eye. Banksy is said to be an artist by some and a graffiti lawbreaker by others. Basically, it is up to the person to define Banksy as someone who is doing the right thing verses doing the wrong thing. Banksy creates his graffiti pictures to make a stand for what he believes is the right way to look at controversial issues. Some people may not like Banksy’s graffiti because they do not have the same views as him. Some people might …show more content…
This, to me, shows that he creates his art for the public to view not to make money off of his artwork. As Banksy’s artwork spread throughout the world the prices of his paintings went up as well. A painting of a girl in an astronaut suite holding a yellow bird sold for $576,000. After this picture sold Banksy posted on his website a painting of an art auction with the words, “I can’t believe you morons actually buy this shit.” He calls the art world, “the biggest joke going ... a rest home for the over privileged, the pretentious, and the weak.” Banksy takes pride in telling people his opinion of their actions. His website post against people buying his paintings for a lot of money is a sign of just how much he dislikes the use of money in the world. I think this proves that the goal in creating his graffiti art is not to make a lot of money but to let his opinion be heard on all kinds of controversial topics. His strong opinions may also be because of his anonymous identity. Banksy or as said to be shortened for Robert Banks is the graffiti artist who will never be caught. His technique of stenciling makes it easier for him to get the job done fast and efficiently. Banksy states that being anonymous can be “crippling” and hard to do. In an anonymous email said to be from Banksy he states,
"I have been called a sellout, but I give away thousands of paintings for free, how many more do you want?" he wrote. "I think it was
He has issued to fixated on in, is the fact that the police never apprehended the artists as well as Theirry when vandalizing. When visually perceiving news footage in today’s world, if anybody gets caught with vandalizing they are customarily taken to jail without a caveat. However, in this particular film Theirry was out with Banksy as well as other street artists and they never got in trouble. Which leads to apostatizing as an unauthentically spurious film. When filming, Theirry caught on footage a police officer verbalizing to the artist, “Come here, Im not going to apprehend you.” This would never transpire in authentic life
“In contrast to government-commissioned public art, street art is illicit and subversive in nature. Therefore, most street artists, including Banksy, use pseudonyms to avoid legal prosecution for vandalism.”(Chung 27) Banksy’s street art does not focus on competing with rival artists, but focuses on engaging with a broader audience in a deeper level. He provokes his audience by deeply expressing out various social practices that helps viewers to reflect and confront certain aspects together as a community. (27) The underlying message of Banksy’s art can lead towards an active involvement of street art within the community.
Throughout the time that humans have created pieces of artwork, the interpretation of whether or not the general public considers it art changes. In the past, being an artist was highly respected such as in the times of the Renaissance where they were alongside philosophers and other of the kind, examples being Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Nowadays, the arts are often looked down upon and disregarded and do not receive the respect they deserve. One form of art that is typically looked at with disgust and lives a very short lifespan is street art. Street art is the main focus of Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, which focuses on two sub-themes which were the actual creation of street art and its history along with the uprising
Known for his contempt for the government in labeling graffiti as vandalism, Banksy displays his art on public surfaces such as walls, even going as far as to build physical prop pieces. Banksy does not sell photos of street graffiti directly himself; however, art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of
In “Graffiti as Career and Ideology”, Lachmann states that organizations “tried to win their members recognition as serious artists by encouraging writers to produce graffiti-style works on canvas and various other media with a view toward their sale to art collectors” (246). Rather than stopping graffiti writers, they are being encouraged to keep producing graffiti-style works to sell. While they aren’t vandalizing anymore and they are producing art on canvas, it is unexpected to further support these “criminals” like the organizations are doing. Some graffiti is even so respected and praised that it is protected. The perfect example of this is that “The stencil work and street art of British artist Banksy, possibly the most well-known contemporary graffiti writer/street artist, has gained such value as a commodity that the work on some of his walls is now protected under the aegis of urban heritage” (McAuliffe and Iveson 139). How can graffiti and its writers be so frowned upon but so many people still praise
The reason he is able to continue to release controversial art in highly populated, public places without consequences to his person solely because of his anonymity, and that his work represents itself enough without him. His work is criticized by many, but as it is an inanimate voice of opinion, Banksy is able to use it to his advantage, and plaster his opinion on current issues, wherever he can/wants.
Banksy is a very well known street artist and filmmaker who after years of having Thierry follow him around filming everything tells Thierry to make his own art. Thierry in returns does something even better he creates his on alter ego named Mr. Brainwash whose art is nothing more than copycat off of other famous art works but, with added color and a few different designs. Thierry then opens his own art expiate where he shows off and sells his artwork. This kicks off his career as an artist. But, upsets many other street artists who feel Thierry never really had to struggle like they
Banksy, a street artist whose identity remains unknown is believed to have been born in Bristol, England, around 1974. He rose to prominence for his provocative stenciled pieces in the late 1990s. Banksy is the subject of a 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, which examines the relationship between commercial and street art. Banksy's artwork is characterized by striking images, often combined with slogans. His work often engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. Common subjects include rats, apes, policemen, members of the royal family, and children. In addition to his two-dimensional work, Banksy is known for his installation artwork. Other pieces have drawn attention for their edgy themes or the boldness of their execution. Banksy's worldwide fame has transformed his artwork from acts of vandalism to sought-after high art pieces. Banksy's identity remains unknown, despite intense speculation. The two names most often suggested are Robert Banks and Robin Gunningham. Pictures that surfaced of a man who was supposedly Banksy pointed toward Gunningham, an artist who was born in Bristol in 1973. Gunningham moved to London around 2000, a timeline that correlates with the progression of Banksy's
Banksy is the alias of a world renounced graffiti and street artist. The main concept behind his artwork is political activism, satire, and brandalism. An example of this is his 2010 piece portraying a Native American Indian holding a “no trespassing” sign. It conveys great irony in American history for the American colonists took over the natives’ land while searching for freedom themselves.
Banksy is one of the most famous and mysterious street artists in the world. Helen Weaver, the art in an American magazine writer stated that,” Banksy was born in 1974 and was raised in the Bristol UK area. When he first started spray painting, he was ten years old.” “(1). Weaver Helen.” Banksy.” Art in America. Sep 18.2009. Web.11 Nov.2015. Banksy enjoyed the attention he received from the public. He loved using street art to express his inner feelings. He mostly uses graffiti to express his feelings. In the early years the authorities worked hard to remove his pictures from public places. They considered his art vandalism and destructive to the public. Vandalism is when someone deliberately destroys the public or private property, however, the public fought to save some of his pictures from authorities. Banksy is a very influential artist in his time. He was well respected and recognized by his fans all over the world.
While his identity remains unknown, it is believed that he was born in Bristol, England in the mid-1970s. In the beginning of his career, he started doing graffiti in the early 90s and collaborated with other street artists. His artwork at the time consisted mostly of freehand, but starting in the late 90s, he predominantly used stencils as it was deemed more efficient. With this technique, his work became more well known around Bristol and London. In the late 2000’s, his work surfaced all over, even being on buildings in different parts of America, predominantly New York City. While some of his work seems to be humorous and satirical, they mostly relate to war and capitalism. His work often times are parodies of historical images, such as the piece being focused on in this analysis (“Banksy
“It’s an open invitation to Kanye. If he buys that print then I’ll paint over the mural.”
What makes him different from street artists is that he does not devote his work to one specific area. Banksy went from traditional street art painting on walls to spray painting into vehicles. During his art movement in New York he sprayed painted an extravagant art piece that tied to political spectrum, the Horses in Night-Vision Goggles and the soundtrack to go with it made it so realistic. He did a very good job with the color tone that went with the spray painting. He wanted to make it realistic by including the soundtrack in the background; this caused a big crowd of New Yorkers at the location. All in all the art movement done in New York brought people together. People who were appreciative of his art and to collaborate to one another about his work were special. You had to be at the different locations to see the art in person to see the impact it has. Although, it brought people together it also cause some chaos. There were people that vandalized his artwork because they were so tired of his
The nature of Banksy’s work is iconoclastic in the way he blatantly designs images to rebel governmental authority or depict the failings of
Banksy is a very renowned street artist who keeps his identity unknown. His artwork is portrayed by “striking images, often combined with slogans, [which] engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed” (“Banksy Biography”). He first started his bold street art in Bristol, his hometown located in London, but quickly spread to the United States of America. In the U.S., Banksy targeted the most populated cities; this was due to the fact that it was easier for him to spread his messages. With a crowded location, his lessons will extent over an audience much quicker.