The Art and Mystery of "Banksy"

Destructive or beautifying? Breaking the law or reinforcing our rights? Whatever one's opinion on Banksy's graffiti art, it is undeniable that the artist raises a number of important questions regarding the state of public space in capitalist societies.

Who is Banksy?

Despite being perhaps the most popular graffiti artist in the world, Banksy has managed to remain pseudo-anonymous. His real name is unknown; the only definite facts are that he is male, and was born in Bristol, England. It is also said he was born in 1974. In 2007 the BBC published what is thought to be a picture of the artist at work on a London street.

Monkeys, Rats and Cops

Banksy's work is distinct in its style, with a range of themes and motifs that are often repeated. Also consistent is an underlying social or political message that criticizes everything from homophobia and militarism to our excessive material consumption and the saturation of public space with corporate messages.

Perhaps most frequent in Banky's work is the aim of subverting state and corporate authority. Among his best known images are monkeys holding weapons of mass destruction, gun-holding policeman drawn with Wal-Mart's trademark yellow smiley face, and British bobbies locked in a passionate kiss.

Banksy has even gone so far as to paint the Queen with a gorilla face, and to print his name, skull and crossbones and the phrase "turf war" on grazing cattle. He is also known for satirizing "high art" such as the Mona Lisa, which he stenciled in a soldier's uniform with a rocket launcher over her shoulder.

Critique on Capitalism

Much of Banksy's work stems from his dissatisfaction with capitalist society; as he states in his book, Wall and Piece, "the people who run our cities don't understand graffiti because they think nothing has the right to exist unless it makes a profit."

Banksy has a different take on ideas of private and public space, criticizing what he calls "brandalism." While advertisers are given unbridled access to our lives through their pervasive ads and billboards, the public is not allowed to respond due to trademarks, intellectual property and copyright laws, along with accusations of vandalism. Banksy disagrees with this, arguing that "any advert in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours."

Banksy lives by such statements; he refuses to sell photos of his street graffiti or mount exhibitions in commercial galleries. He sees graffiti as one of the last, true forms of art that has not been tainted by the profit motive: "TV has made going to the theatre seem pointless, pornography has pretty much killed painting, but graffiti remains gloriously unspoilt by progress."

Sources:

1. Banksy. Wall and Piece. Germany: Century, 2005.

Banksy in London

Satirizing High Art

Classic Banksy

Banksy's take on traditional art

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