Banksy

BANKSY Bristol, 1969-74

A mythical figure in the graffiti scene, Banksy has attained a prominent position among the greats of the art world through his countless radical acts. He thrives on provocation, shock, and disruption of society, and it is precisely this quality that renders his work so significant. Despite his ability to defy norms, Banksy's true identity remains shrouded in mystery, never revealed to the public. Most likely, Banksy is a street artist from Bristol, England. He employs his art as a means to communicate his ideas strongly and unequivocally concerning certain social and political phenomena. According to some sources, his real name could be Robin or Robert Banks, but once again, nothing is certain. Banksy adamantly insists on remaining anonymous, aligning with the spirit of graffiti, which calls for the creation of artwork in utmost secrecy. His art embodies a blend of irony, irreverence, humor, and often contains highly discernible messages. The techniques he employs appear relatively diverse. Evidently, he meticulously develops detailed stencils, hinting at his potential use of information technology (IT) to fulfill his artistic tasks. The artist disrupts the ordinary course of things, embellishing and exaggerating them, imbuing his work with a depth and perspective that is unparalleled, and undoubtedly, unique to him. He manages his art intelligently, simultaneously exciting and provoking the audience in a captivating manner, always leaving them wanting more. Banksy has been the artist who legitimized street art, successfully bringing as many people as possible closer to this form of artistic expression. His street-bound works have been transformed into genuine paintings and sculptures exhibited in the world's most renowned art galleries. With his effective and direct style, he bridged the world of graffiti writers with the international art market. Undoubtedly, his body of work has set a precedent for all other street artists worldwide. At the beginning of his career, Banksy gained fame by illicitly attaching his paintings inside London's most prominent museums, such as the Tate Modern. His preferred subjects were typically altered antique artworks, adorned with modern stencils or prominent slogans created with spray paint. At times, he selected prints featuring landscapes and modified them with phrases, while other instances involved portraits of nobility, whose faces, or hairstyles he altered to create eccentricities. After dispersing his initial stencils in Bristol, he relocated to London, where he embarked on a new series of subjects: the Rats, depicted in various activities through stenciled imagery. For this series and beyond, he drew inspiration from the French artist Blek Le Rat, stating, "Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek Le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." The choice of rats as protagonists in his stencils holds an ideological significance for Banksy. He asserts that these creatures are genuinely insignificant and mistreated by all, yet they possess the power to bring an entire city to its knees. Banksy portrays rats while they listen to music, don glamorous sunglasses, declare love, dress as military personnel, or are confined within a laboratory flask. They are undoubtedly the most recognizable subjects and exemplify the artist's work to the highest degree. Among other chosen animal subjects, monkeys also frequently appear, often personified. Another important theme addressed by the artist is that of security. Police officers are often depicted with smiles in place of their faces or caught in acts of kissing one another. Additionally, a famous reinterpretation of a scene from Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction, featuring the two main actors (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson) using a banana as a substitute for a gun, has gained significant popularity. One of Banksy's most important and widely recognized stencils depicts a young girl gazing at a balloon floating away. This piece has sparked curiosity among many art critics, who have attempted to interpret it in various ways. The child may evoke nostalgia for the lost balloon drifting away, or perhaps she intentionally released it herself and now watches it with longing. Undoubtedly, it stands as one of Banksy's most poignant symbols in circulation. Two Italian works by Banksy have emerged, both in Naples. One was erased by another writer and portrayed a reimagined version of Bernini's "Ecstasy of Saint Ludovica Albertoni," with the saint consuming a sandwich—a symbol of consumerism. Much more could be said about the artist's diverse chosen subjects, but it is crucial to bear in mind the underlying themes he addresses, critique of capitalism through the ridicule of its representative figures, condemnation of consumerism and mass society, and an enduring desire for freedom persistently met with opposition from security services. Undoubtedly, Banksy's merit lies in bringing the general public closer to contemporary art in its many diverse forms, fostering a critical view of reality. His works possess such force that they immediately provoke contemplation, thanks to the messages they convey. Banksy has become one of the most highly regarded and followed artists internationally, owing in part to the aura of charm and mystery he has skillfully woven around his persona. Nowadays, the general public is no longer concerned with uncovering his true identity, as the enigma surrounding it only enhances the impact of his art.