Who is Banksy?

British street artist, who is this guy?

Anonymous graffiti legend. Unreal.

A man who sneaks around the cobblestone streets of England and leaves his mark. But really he is a worldwide phenomenon. Most recently having released a film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, Banky’s ingenuity was deemed the “world’s first street art disaster movie.” The film made its debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and just last week was in Sydney for the Sydney Film Festival, tickets sold out almost immediately. He has also had loads of exhibitions around the globe, usually requiring the employees of the gallery to leave while he sets up, to ensure his anonymity is maintained.

His street art combines graffiti writing with distinctive stencilling techniques. Similar to the work of Blek le Rat, worked had a similar aesthetic and stencilling technique but was based in Paris in the 80’s.

It is believes Banksy grew up in Bristol, and was influenced by the Bristol underground scene. The scene featured mainly around the collaborations between artists and musicians, Bristol is well keen on its drum ‘n bass, hip hop, electro, indie rock and any form of music in between.

He works on the streets and in the galleries. I was fortunate enough to go to his homecoming exhibition in Bristol last year. The queues must have been four hours long, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Some people are worried that Banksy glorifies what is essentially vandalism and encourages such behaviour in the impressionable young minds. Obviously, as with any successful and groundbreaking artist, some will endorse his work while others revel in its outrageousness or shocking nature. Any great artist, from Da Vinci, to Degas, Renoir, Picasso, Duchamp, Dali, Kahlo, they all have an element of rebellion. One must go beyond the boundaries and into the unknown to be an acceptable artist. Art which refrains from change is always destined to die.

One of Banksy’s most controversial works epitomises this theory perfectly: his appropriation of Stonehenge at the Glastonbury Music Festival. He created a sacred circle of portaloos, which was not at all positively received. Similarly, government workers ‘accidentally’ painted over a Banksy art piece in the Melbourne CBD, again perceived as inappropriate vandalism.

From Bristol to Toronto, London, Sydney, Melbourne, San Francisco, Liverpool and New York. It is even suggested Banksy painted nine images on the Israeli West Bank barrier, including an image of a ladder going up and over the wall and an image of children digging a hole through the wall.

Controversy or creativity? Vandalism or expression? Criminal or artist?

Banksy or Robert? The future of art is unknown.

China White

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