Banksy

[Johnno]

Any Brits know what the deal with Banksy is? Seems he started off subversively and now is the darling of the art world, despite his indifference and anonymity.

http://www.cassiopedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Banksy

Flowerchucker

Vietnam.......

Painted on the Israel/Palestine separation wall on the Palestinean side.

Modified "classic painting" print.

Bush & Co. in charge?

 

[Tigersoap]

Sorry Johnno, I don't know more than what is "out there".

Great artworks.
Check out his site for more : http:(slash)(slash)www(dot)banksy(dot)co(dot)uk

 

[Jimbo]

There's a pretty neat "tribute" video of his work on youtube. You can find it here

 

[Da Moose]

You could ask this Robin chap about him... If you can find him.

_http://www.metafilter.com/73277/Banksy-uncovered

Moose

 

[Johnno]

Just a note, the latest SOTT page has one of Banksy's pics up there.

Knowing who he is isn't important (to me) as to what he has done. I received a copy of War and Piece a few months ago which has some of his best stuff.

 

[The Mechanic]

A new Banksy:

In the wild:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hjIuMx-N7c&feature=player_embedded

It gives me mixed feelings. Especially the video, it really shows the total blindness of people.

 

[Tigersoap]

If you can you should check out his movie "Exit through the gift shop".
I won't say much more for the moment :)

 

[Gertrudes]

It gives me mixed feelings. Especially the video, it really shows the total blindness of people.

Oh my...I don't think those people even looked closely. No one seemed to realize what that was about.

If you can you should check out his movie "Exit through the gift shop".
I won't say much more for the moment :)

I've been meaning to see this movie for a while now. Thanks for mentioning it Tigersoap, I'll try to check it out as well.

 

[Ellipse]

Some other videos of Banksy :
Banksy in Palestine : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZK7D6WqzR0

Guantanamo in Disneyland : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRNmhmfSpVg

At the museums : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-rt3jyZU8 :)

Exit through the gift shop site : http://www.banksyfilm.com/

 

[Hildegarda]

Seems he started off subversively and now is the darling of the art world, despite his indifference and anonymity

Just found an interesting account of people's experiences buying limited edition Banksy prints:

_http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=62577&page=111

Apparently, those prints come out like once a year in London, and the release is never announced but filtered into art forum rumor mills. People assemble in advance and stand in line all previous day and night. The prints are signed and sell for 450 pounds/piece, but could immediately be resold for thousands, so you can imagine part of the reason for the interest.

The crowd control and people's behavior in line there, unfortunately, was very much along the lines of Zimbardo's prison experiment. But there is genuine bonding and positive self-organizing too (see the account from a New Zealand chap as an example). The overall experience is exhilarating, and there are people who are doing it every year.

Banksy (whoever he or they are) has given the proceeds from this year's print sale to the Russian art-group VOINA. They are known for staging public protests using artistic or pseudo-artistic means, and many of them are presently imprisoned.

Overall though, all of the above does suggest that his art is commercialized at this point.