How can we categorize Banksy's work -graffiti or murals?
** Banksy's work, renown as 'street art' stands amidst both Graffiti and Mural. Although he uses text in his work, it is not in the style of "common" Graffiti font, therefore personally, I would lean towards suggesting his work being more Mural-like. I think also that categorizing his work is a bit of a challenge as it plays with the viewers minds a little. For example, in his 'Outdoors - Ground Zero' work, we can see that this piece intends to portray the 'common' style of Graffiti currently in the mainstream eye. I also find this piece a little political and cheeky which also portrays the attitude of a Graffiti Artist.
Yet in the next image, from his 'Outdoors - Detroit' collection, we simply see that the art is purely in the photograph itself, and it is his 'little touches' that add to the affect, and make the work less like Graffiti and more Mural-like. 
Research Banksy's work to attempt to answer this question.
What are some of the differing opinions about Banksy's work?
** Studying his work, I have found that in general, Banksy's pieces are controversial and political. They convey messages of which to him, are important, and express his 'voice' through visuals. In the public eye, Banksy's art is categorized under being Vandalism, which is obviously given the 'stereotypical' Graffiti card. Yet, if his works were actually taken into consideration, I'm sure the majority would quickly change their opinions, and see and feel what he himself is feeling.
How does his work sit in relation to consumerism? Can his work be sold?
** CONSUMERISM: The practice and policies of PROTECTING THE CONSUMER by PUBLICIZING DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE products, MISLEADING BUSINESS PRACTICES, etc.
I believe that it's all in the definition really? Banksy's art aims to 'protect the consumer' by 'publicizing' the 'defective and unsafe' things that are misleading and affect the current socio-economic state of not only our communities, but also our environment. And if his work is sold, then it is only if the building containing the wall he painted on is being sold. I believe that Banksy works on public space as his messages are in a way 'by the public, for the public' and so 'belong to the public'.
What are some of his attitudes to the sale of Art?
** Banksy does not produce greeting cards or print photo-canvases or paint commissions or sell freshly baked bagels. Please take anything from this site and make your own (non-commercial use only thanks).
Banksy cannot be found on facebook/twitter/myspace etc.
Customer returns and complaints: pestcontroldept@googlemail.com
^^ I thought all of that was absolute genius! Concealing his identity even further, and providing the intrigued audience who set upon finding him, with possible clues. A game of Cat & Mouse really? (:
Who is Banksy? Do we know his true identity?
** Banksy's 'true' identity still remains a mystery but it is said that his name is either Robin or Robert Banks, born in either '74/'75? And is from Bristol.
Upload 2-3 images of Banksy's work that you find interesting, and comment
on the ideas behind the work.
In the first image I have chosen, Banksy simply utilizes the 'No Trespassing' sign, and relates this back to the ongoing land wars between Native American Indians and the European-American population. I feel the idea is very clever and this work appeals to me especially as I am of Maori decent. Today, there is still much controversy concerning land rights between the Maori people & the Pakeha people of Aotearoa.
I also thought that this image was interesting as it is suggestive in the way Banksy feels about Nature and the Advancement of the world. Here, we can see that a car has been crushed by a tree, implying the idea of modern technology being evil or taking over the world. It is like we are forgetting about the simple things in life, things which are free to enjoy, (e.g. parks, reserves, nature walks etc.) This work in comparison to many of his others, is very simple as all he really did was spray two words. Yet in spraying those two words, his message (along with the action of the fallen tree) stands strong and is a powerful 'protest' to the 'evils' of today's world. Then again, this could be Banksy's way of rebelling against nature? If we look carefully at this image, we can see that the car is merely damaged, yet the tree has taken a fall for the worst. Also, with him 'defacing' the tree, it is like he himself is celebrating the failure the tree set out to do; 'kill' the inventions of the modern society!
For my third image, I really felt that this was alot more emotional, with reference to race. The words 'Eat the Rich' provided me with a very absurd, but interesting meaning. With the inclusion of the 'black man' walking through the shot, I felt this gave a 'racially sensitive' effect, and in a way, proposes ideas of cannibalism. Because the image looks shot from the back of a restaurant, I feel that it is ironic that a coloured man is included in the shot. It makes you ask the question, 'is he the waiter? The busboy?; something intended by the opposite race.
** The more I study Banksy's work, the more I contradict myself. Though at first, I felt that he was more of a muralistic artist, I actually now believe that his art is more along the lines of Graffiti. His work is done illegally, which is Graffiti to a 'T' and 'defacing' (yet in most his cases, "improving") public space, instead of being commissioned to paint an art work (like a mural) is exactly what Banksy achieves. Though there is still mystery behind his true identity, his work speaks for itself and paints a picture of the kind of person Banksy really is.
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