“When you go to an art gallery, you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires” – Banksy
Some call it street art. Some call it graffiti. Some people love Banksy and some people hate him. His satirical artwork is on display across the world. They are sometimes humorous and sometimes, controversial. Often, they have a serious message and make anti-war and anti-establishment statements. His work is selling for record amounts of money at art auctions, (buyers include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). Banksy uses spray cans and stencils and is an accomplished artist. He is also a ‘guerrilla artist’ because his activities are illegal and some local authorities have removed his work from buildings and walls. What do we know about him? Basically, we don’t know who he is, although there are theories, but we know he hails from Bristol, England. Here is a cross section taken from a vast body of work.
No Ball Games
Tottenham Green Road, London
This is a recent work from September 2009. Banksy has taken back the streets and every piece of street work he does stakes a claim but it’s a constant battle with the authorities. Children have lost the right to play on the streets, so the artist takes up their cause.
Pulp Fiction Bananas
Near Old Street Tube Station, London
Banksy’s take on Tarantino’s cult movie was well known in the area and amongst collectors of his work. Transport for London ordered it to be painted over and have a strict policy against ‘graffiti’. The authority released a statement saying that they employed professional cleaners, not professional art critics.
Monkey Detonator
Leake Street Underpass, Waterloo Station, London
Monkeys are a favorite of the artist and he has depicted them many times. Network Rail staff painted over this image and unattractive graffiti tags have replaced it. Some local people have said they would prefer Banksy’s work to remain. The railway company has since softened its approach, saying that they will try to remove any future images by Banksy and auction them for charity.
Rat Mural
Chinatown, New York City
Picture of rat with scissors cutting painter’s cradle. Rats are another favorite of Banksy and he uses them as funny devices and to get serious points across. This is a joke image, found on Canal Street and West Broadway.
Rat Mural: Let Them Eat Crack
Broadway & Howard, SoHo, New York City
Another rat and a play on words this time, inspired by the Marie Antoinette quote, ‘let them eat cake’ about the plight of starving French peasants. This is a statement about the callous nature of corporate America.
Looters, New Orleans
New Orleans
Banksy produced a series of paintings around New Orleans to commemorate the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Following the devastation, there were reports of looting but many people said that this had been exaggerated by the media. There was also criticism of the government’s response to the needs of the people. Here, National Guard soldiers help themselves.
CND Logo
Old Street, London
Banksy likes to juxtapose contradictory images to make a political statement. The CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) logo is universally recognized as a symbol for peace. This is another image that has been removed.
Girl Frisks Soldier
Israeli West Bank Barrier
In 2005, Banksy produced a series of images on the Israeli concrete security barrier as a protest against its construction. The images are on the Palestinian side of the wall and include depictions of ‘what life could be like on the other side of the wall’. Some work was removed. Banksy reported that Israeli soldiers pointed guns at him as he worked.
One Nation Under CCTV
West End, London
The abundance of CCTV cameras is a controversial issue in the UK. Banksy produced this piece next to a camera at a Post Office yard, and so was being watched whilst he worked! It was his biggest work in London at the time. Westminster City Council ordered the work to be painted over and this was carried out in April 2009. Several Banksy images refer to street surveillance.
Window Lovers
Bristol, England
This is Banksy in a playful mood. The stencil painting appeared on the wall of a sexual health clinic on Park Street. The window is in keeping with the design of the real windows in the building. The enlightened local council took the trouble of organizing a poll of Bristol’s residents, asking them if they wanted the image to remain or be removed. It was a landslide yes to allowing it to remain and it’s one of the artist’s most famous works. It now attracts tourists to the area.
17 Comments
Banksy is a revelation to art. I think that staying anonymous is critical as he could be pursued by the police, he produces his work in the name or art and nothing else init.
i really like the work of Banksy, and i think it’s very good of him to get his opinions out into the world whether he does it anonymously or not. i hope that one day i’ll be able to support what i think to be important on as large a scale as banksy does. even if you don’t really see the meaning behind his work, if i saw this on a street it would make me smile, or just give me something to look at or brighten my day a bit. i think the fact that he does this anonymously just shows that he’s doing this to make a difference to what he thinks is important rather than just for fame and if he gets satisfaction from seeing people enjoying it then that’s just a bonus.
I love how every praises Bansky’s work. He is nothing but a self-titled rebel who makes claims that his art has meaning. He is no different than any other anti-establishment thinkers. He just happens to be a good artist. But hey, what do I know? I’m probably going to be called an idiot or something because I’m not praising Bansyky as some genius
Art is in the eye of the beholder. No one should be criticized for their honest opinion.
Thank you, I appreciate that. I think he is a very talented artist, just I have a different opinion of his intent lol.
i agree with toptenzmaster…i disagree with you, respectfully, quay. I believe his art holds purpose and sure he may someone who is anti establishment, but hey where is the establishment taking us now? i think greater than his anti establishment sentiments (which i agree he does have those) are the messages he leaves behind. he makes you think, he makes you feel, he makes you want to experience his work, not just look at it and think, ‘oh that’s nice’ or ‘oh that has a good message’. his purpose to me is that he wants you to not only think about things, but then go out and teach yourself, educate yourself and eventually maybe influence yoU to be the change that he wants to see.
^^^also to whoever wrote he was a coward, i would be too if i was facing the same charges he was
Here’s the top 20 of Banksy’s work in 2010:
http://www.artsy.nl/2010/12/banksy-top-20-van-2010/
Banksy has a great cause other than self-satisfaction?
Lol keith got burned.
Dude your a douch, what O-so great cause do you back that gives you the right to judge?
Interesting list of a very talented artist whose work and message(s) will only last until the walls he/she paints on inevitably crumble. Meanwhile the cabinets, the tourists, and the art they serve, endure. I wonder if Bansky realizes how passing his/hers work is, and the establishment he/she fights against will only ever consider the art nothing more than a nuisance and the truth it seeks to reveal does nothing to help the plight of the condemned.
Basically, if Bansky cares so much he/she should go out and get a job where their passion and creativity can actual help solve the problems the art highlights. To me, this kind of work is nothing more than hypocritical self-satisfying expression from a distance. If you care so much that you are willing to break the law (even a ridiculous law), but are too afraid to come forward and accept responsibility for the act and the message, then you are a coward , and I don't respect a coward's art.
Interesting top ten list though. But screw Bansky.
Anyone like to differ?
That is certainly one way to view an artist's work. But I think there is something to be said for awareness of a problem. If his art brings awareness, then he is serving a purpose. The mystery around him adds to the sensationalism of his work. If he were to expose himself and be arrested it would take away from his intrigue and popularity to some degree, I believe.
“Basically, if Bansky cares so much he/she should go out and get a job where their passion and creativity can actual help solve the problems the art highlights.”
We don’t really know what his background is, and what work he does since he stays anonymous, so you really can’t say that.
Hmm. That is a good point. Bansky could be a disgruntled social worker or teacher for all I know. I Still think it's shameful not to step forward and stand behind your art.
" Banksy reported that Israeli soldiers pointed guns at him as he worked"
Yeah, what a coward, unlike Keith, who bravely posts banal twatwafflery from the comfort of his parents' basement.
At least I used my real name.
That’s childish, make up your mind. You either like the art or dont. It’s stupid of you to flat out be like “I like the art but not the way its presented”. FOR YOUR INFORMATION the way art is presented is considered part of the art itself. And no he’s not being a coward. He’s SPEAKING in a LANGUAGE only he know’s how to speak. And if you cant understand it it’s your loss. NOT only that he is not only speaking for himself but for those around him that dont dare question anything or speak for themselves. Better to raise peoples awarness with a 20foot painting than with what? a 2foot canvas? Whats gonna inspire people? Whats gonna make someone move to action? The 20 foot painting or the 2foot one??? He SPOKE VOLUMES. Street arts a great way for no names to go out and speak words they cant speak outloud. ART is a LANGUAGE. The way he’s presenting it just doesnt speak to you. But you have no right to call him a coward.