Exit Through The Gift Shop Essay

“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.

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

Street art is a visual art created all over the streets, it can be present in a form of posters, graffiti, window paints, and murals, among others. All of those artists that chose to exhibit their art on the streets, rather than in a museum or gallery is because they are situated it in a non-art context. The products they use to produce their art works most of the time are: free hand aerosol paints, krink markers, plutonium paints and graffiti remover used to create perfect images all over the cities. Street art adorn the urban landscape, explode the skills of the artists, and finally but no less important, is constructive providing a specific social message for all the audience.

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 cutting edge of the public art development, connected with the hip-hop society of breakdancing and rap music, began with African-American and Latino teenagers in Philadelphia and New York in the late 1960s (MacDonald 1). At that time graffiti to most, was considered to be a form of art work. Regardless of those that thought of it as art, there were and are still numerous individuals that loathe the graffiti movement. Works of art have been dependably charming for ages, as it is a method for self-expression and inventiveness. Artistic expressions have advanced in many ways, such as public canvases offering an approach to modern day unique artwork. Graffiti is progressively turning into a hobby. Although one of the major controversies of graffiti surround the statement that it is not art and considered vandalism, graffiti allow artists to display grateful meanings, skills and expressions to the public.

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

Exit Through the Gift Shop is critical of how our culture values and judges artwork because of the degree to which expectations and others’ beliefs manipulate our interpretations of reality. The documentary demonstrates this phenomenon concerning art, but it also applies to all subjective experiences. Through Thierry’s opening gallery Life is Beautiful, Exit Through the Gift Shop shows how expectations and conformity manipulate our experiences.

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 a UK man who lives in London, has a secret identity, faces a dangerous situation, and he has experienced and talented graphic artist. First, Banksy is a man who has a secret identity. For example, he does not want people to see his face or hear his voice even in the movie. Also, when he had his first US exhibition, he was not participating in the show. No one knows what he looks like if he marries or not if he has children or not, where he lives except Thierry.

One of the famous street artist of Europe is Bansky.Banksy was the first grafitti artist of UK to effectively straddle the difference between compelling artwork and roads. He at first achieved his notoriety on a progression of prominent public stunts, for example, introducing his own artistic creation into the Tate Museum. Banksy has turned into an overall wonder and the pioneer of the street art development.

the street artist Banksy, which follows the immigrant Thierry Guetta, who has a passion for

The nature of Banksy’s work is iconoclastic in the way he blatantly designs images to rebel governmental authority or depict the failings of

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 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.