Banksy

23/09/2020

Banksy is possibly the best known street artist. This English artist thrives in his anonymity, creating political paintings and sharing his dark sense of humour through his art.

Although best known for his stencil work, Banksy doesn't just stick to walls. He's had various exhibitions and separate projects, which not only feature his art, but also help to educate on more serious matters. Here's a couple of those projects:

- Dismaland

Dismaland was a temporary exhibit that parodied a themepark, right down to it's advertisments. Naurally, it had to have a Banksy twist - it's a bemusement park, one that focuses on the horrors we usually wish to leave behind. It ran from 21st August until 27th Septemper, in 2015, in Weston-super-Mare. Tickets cost £3 per person, and there was a limited amount of people (4000 tickets on sale per day) allowed to enter the park each day,

This project, hosted by Banksy, featured a total of 58 artist's works, from performers, to sculptors, and even writers. Each piece bought a new issue to light, from domestic violence in Punch and Judy shows, to a scene within a bedraggled castle, showing a princess in an upturned carriage getting photographed by the paparazzi. Everything was based upon commonly ignored problems, with depictions of oil spills and the refugee crisis becoming attractions of their own.
This video presents just how dismal the park truly is, and features interviews with some of the participating artists. I think it's really interesting that Julie Burchill still participated, even though she vocalised that she disagrees with Banksy political standpoint, to present the message she was passionate about. The whole park mocked serious issues that often get ignored, and people from contrasting viewpoints agreed to bring their thoughts to the table.
After the exhibit closed, the resources didn't go to waste. The materials were repurposed and went toward making shelters for homeless migrants.

- The Walled Off Hotel

The Walled Off Hotel is a hotel, situated near the separation wall in Bethlehem, that was made by Banksy in March 2017. The hotel, which was kept a secret for the 14 months it took to build, prepare, and hire staff for, was a gift from Banksy to the people of Palestine.

All of the artwork inside the hotel was created or curated by Banksy. The hotel has strict measures put into place to prevent theft and damages to the art. The goal of the hotel, as stated on it's website is to be able to break even, so the profits go back into charities and local businesses. This artwork references a variety of different cultures, and different artworks have contexts from them, such as a modified British television card design from the 70s, or a sculpture that referenced the Second Intifada, as shown in this video.
Furthermore, the hotel was home to a collaborative "Alternativity" between Danny Boyle and Banksy. This documentary shows the making of it, from initial thumbnail sketches by Banksy, to the exploration of cultural elements that can be included, and scenes from the final show. The result was a modernised, yet still respectful, nativity performed by kids from Palestine, with elements that appealed to the audience, regardless of their cultures.

As a whole, like many other people, I really like Banksy and his approach to art. His way of working forces you to consider what's really important by emphasising absurdity and a sense of outrage through his humour. I also appreciate that he uses his fame as a way of giving back - whether it's simply educating of larger problems (like the Dismaland exhibit), or giving back to a community that's had so much taken from it, Banksy uses his work to try to make a change.
My one true critique of Banksy is that he's stolen the limelight from one of his original inspirations, Blek Le Rat. While Banksy is a household name at this point, Blek Le Rat isn't anywhere near as famous, despite being one of the first French street artists. That said, copying is in the nature of street art, and at the very least he's using his platform for good.