apple strudel

Inspired by Wildo7's avatar, I wanted to start a thread about Banksy.

Banksy is a UK graffiti artist who specializes in political commentary. A lot of that is commentary on American foreign policy as well as British foreign policy, especially with respect to Iraq. But he doesn't stop there. Common targets are mega-corporations and the problems of authoritarian governments who opress their own people.

The thing that's great about Banksy is that his art is wonderfully thought-provoking, frequently juxtaposing seemingly unrelated ideas to great effect. A lot of this actually helps us re-set our moral compass.

Another thing about Banksy that's great is that he really seems to get at the crux of the issue. In an era of fear and control, he not only points this out but seems to suggest a way out: a return to our core humanity.

A final thing is the conversation over the public space. What belongs there? Is there a place for beauty? Or is it the domain of corporate billboards?

Some works

On pollution
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...thekla.arp.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima.../fisherboy.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...rpetalgirl.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...poison_rat.jpg

On fox news
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...yc/houston.jpg

On Katrina
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...a/Trumpet2.jpg

On corporations
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima.../tescoflag.jpg

On beauty in the public sphere and TV
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...can-girl-3.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...es/girl-tv.jpg

On CCTV
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...era-girl-5.jpg
File:Bansky one nation under cctv.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On the police or military occupation
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...ngcoppers3.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...iltonfrisk.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...ers_street.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...guantanemo.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...ssingguard.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...dierbeth01.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...sniperbris.jpg

On war
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...t-launcher.jpg
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...s/copgirl3.jpg

On hope and humanity
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...alwayshope.jpg

On graffiti
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...apes/what2.jpg

On everyday life
http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/ima...t-a-race-3.jpg

On the West Bank barrier
File:Mauer-betlehem.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...theid_wall.jpg

Wildo7's avatar
File:Banksy costume.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And some quotes.

“ If you have a statue in the city centre, you could go past it every day on your way to school and never even notice it, right - but as soon as someone puts a traffic cone on its head, you've made your own sculpture. — from The Independent[71] ”

“ The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little. ”

“ People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly. ”

“ Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a ******* sharp knife to it.

Banksy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Banksy

So political forum, what does Bansky do for you?

elway7

Isn't graffiti illegal! Why would anyone want to talk about A graffiti artist from the UK?

__________________
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
Thomas Paine

apple strudel

He makes good points. Legality has nothing to do with it. Inter-racial marriage used to be illegal.

elway7

So you think graffiti will be legal at some point?

__________________
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
Thomas Paine

Stokes

Those are actually quite well done, though in principle I disagree with graffiti. He's definitely got talent, but I don't think it should be done on other people's property without consent.

elway7

I agree!!

__________________
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
Thomas Paine

Wildo7

He rarely paints on private property, most of the time it's public and people usually support it.

apple strudel

It's impossible to predict the future. It does raise interesting questions about ownership in the public sphere, however. Not really legal ones, but philosophical ones. And of course that might one day influence the law. Who really owns public space?

PatsFanInVa

Incredible work, and incredibly witty. Never mind that for every Banksy there are 1000 people for whom the height of self-expression is making letterforms look like they're balloons. It's worth all the ugly crap I've seen thus far to see some of these.

I'm okay if his expression vs. public property is not settled in his favor. Point is, he won't stop. That's a good thing.

PFnV

Wildo7

The guy's a genius. I have a really cool book he put out which has a combination of pictures of his artwork and some really clever musings. I strongly recommend it...