Using Art to Comment on Social and Political Issues

“Street art is omnipresent in urban streets and is a rish source of inspiration for artistic creativity. . . It possesses the aesthetic voices of the ordinary and enables resistance for the marginalized. Banksy’s street art, in particular, can guide students to think about various social and political issues and to reflect upon the immediate, if not unjust, world in which they live, to transform that world, and to

At one point in the film, street art became the rave and was being auctioned off in auction houses, but Banksy and other artists did not believe that the focus for their artwork was about the money; rather, it was the passion and expressional aspect of their art pieces. He believed that Thierry's video footage would be the perfect way to depict this passion, but a majority of the footage Thierry had was unusable. However, the usable footage that was used in the documentary was enough to demonstrate the true passion some street artists had. Many have different motives of creating their artwork as well. For example, Borf, creates street art in commemoration of his friend that passed away and even his alias is in memory of the friend who passed. Banksy’s purpose of creating art is often as a form to criticize social problems or just for humor at times. A very striking example of his artwork as a form to express social problems was when he went to the Gaza strip and created a trompe-l'oeil pieces of street art against the wall, which at the time was experiencing a vast amount of conflict and civil unrest. This was extremely dangerous, but Banksy managed to place it on the wall without any harm, which shows his dedication to his

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

Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South and Madonna Enthroned are very similar images that were produced by very different cultures. Both images were produced during the 13th Century. The image of Rathnasambhava, the Transcendent Buddha of the South was produced in Tibet during an interesting period of the country’s religious history. The branch of Tibetan Buddhism is led by a religious and sometimes political leader called the Dalai Lama. It was during the 13th Century during the reign of Kublai Khan, around the time of the production of this painting, that Tibet experienced the first incarnation of the Dalai Lama. One has to wonder if this painting is somehow related to that occurrence. According to

Dorothea Lange was a documentary photographer that was best know for the work she did with farm security administration also known as the FSA. She was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1895, and studied photography at Columbia University. Then she went to pursue her career as a portrait photographer in San Francisco.

Art can be expressed in many forms but one of the best has got to be political art, as it expresses art in a relevant form for many to understand, it doesn’t require knowledge in history. It puts out a statement in a bold way so that people may better understand what is trying to be expressed. Many artists use art in topics like reproductive rights, equality, gun control, human rights, the environment and war to express desire for change. One of the most outspoken political artists is Barbara Kruger, who has had her work installed in many well-known museums. Kruger has become even more known because of her relevance using art to criticize well-known public figures like Kim Kardashian and George W. Bush, she has also been a proud supporter of reproductive rights. One of her most known works is “Your body is a battleground” which was printed in 1989 in her support for the “March for Women’s Lives”. To show the positive and negatives sides of the inner struggle, the good and the evil. She has a reputation of supporting feminism ideas but she hasn’t stopped there, she’s even had her work put on display in the Hirshhorn Museum. She has gotten the attention of The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times because of her distinctive contemporary works. The beauty of her art is that it relates to many, her art ranges from domestic violence to compulsive shopping and everything in-between, it is also really easy

He worked odd jobs such as a carpenter, a sculptor, he even eventually began selling his own handmade postcards and sweatshirts (Biography.com). One day he met Andy Warhol. He spotted Warhol’s iconic wig as he was walking into a restaurant and he waited outside for half an hour until he could build the courage to walk inside, when he did, he walked and asked Warhol one to buy one of his postcards for $1, he did, but he dismissed young Basquiat for his work being “too young” (Fretz 23). So Basquiat went back to the streets doing his graffiti at night on subways and slum buildings in lower Manhattan, still under the name SAMO©, with his friend Al Diaz. Basquiat began to draw attention to himself through the Mudd Club, a nightclub in the Tribeca area of New York that was venue for underground music as well as other counterculture events. He was the so much on the regular basis at was almost like he lived upstairs. It was at the Mudd Club where Basquiat met Diego Cortez (Fretz 35). Being anart curator, and co-owner of the Mudd Club, Cortez was a major key in the beginning of Basquiat’s career. While he was promoting Basquiat’s work Basquiat was given a spot in the Time Square Show, an art showing for you street artist held in New York City, which gave him the exposure he needed to launch his career as a professional

Art most definitely should question the status quo. Art is a form of someone's expression on a particular issue, and our expression and beliefs on a issue is what makes us all individuals. We are all not the same so art shouldn't be either.

Kruger focuses heavily on economic, political and social aspects that are currently affecting women around the world. As described above, in the recap of her life as a feminist artists, she focuses on the aspects of society that affect women. Her work is always portrayed in an ironic viewpoint with the text she puts across the majority of images/photographs of women. Unlike Banksy, she in not anonymous, and is very well known in the art scene.

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

Louise Bourgeois is an artist provided the keys that opened the door for female artists in the twentieth century. She was born in Paris 1911, and immigrated to New York, New York in 1938 after she married Robert Goldwater a young American art historian (Getlein, 2012), where she lived until her death on May 31, 2010 (Layayo, 2015). The blood of being an artist has flown through her since her conception. She was born into a family that repaired seventeenth and eighteenth century tapestries (Layayo, 2015). Being an artist was her destiny, and her life provided her the tools she needed to achieve her purpose. While growing up in France she attended various schools of art schools that include Ecole du Louvre, Academie des Beaux-Arts, Academie Julian, and Atelver Fernand Leger (Louise Bourgeois, 2001). She continued her study and practice of art when she moved to Ney York in 1938 by becoming a part of the Art Student League (Louise Bourgeois, 2001). Students would stop by her apartment on Sunday to get their art criticized by her, and this

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 will be doing a creative project about political art with the intention of creating a portfolio which will capture the current state of American politics. I chose this topic because throughout the presidential election, I observed the way candidates and their supporters used visual images to to support their causes. When I participated in the Women’s March On Washington, I was blown away by the creative, funny, and powerful signs I saw. Throughout this year, I found that the one thing almost everyone in my life agrees on is that it was the we are living in an extremely polarized country and time. I want to take senior exploration as an opportunity to convey this intense political climate. I chose to use art, as opposed to writing or music, because I really enjoy it and do not think I will have the opportunity to do much art after high school.

“Any drawn line that speaks about identity, dignity, and unity is art,” (Chaz Bojorquey) is a statement that I agree with. Art is perceived differently from all people based on their culture, religion, personal taste, and many other factors. I believe that as long as what has been created is meaningful to either the creator or even to somebody that is viewing it, it should be considered art. Art in the public is a very controversial subject that brings up the important question of, “Should public art be considered as real art,” personally I think that it should be. I believe that the difference between art that is placed in a gallery and art that is visible by a community is the fact that what is acceptable in a gallery

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.