I've always loved Banksy's work. He's a constant, always popping up somewhere, and I find that weirdly reassuring. He's like an institution, sort of like the Queen (when she was alive!). I love his satire. Agree with you Victoria that his work, and other street artists like him, is essential.
I agree that some people are really snobbish about graffiti, but I think the criticism is more than the art form.
Perhaps some of the challenge of taking him seriously as an artists and activist is that we don’t know who he is, how do you hold others account when you are not transparent yourself? The absence of information can really alter how we perceive and trust individuals, and if what we do know or glean from the artists work challenges our beliefs and makes us uncomfortable we are even less likely to ‘like’ them. We view them as being ‘outside’ our group. Some of this could explain the art world in out group bias against Banksy.
I love the satire, I’ve always enjoyed the political satire cartoons in papers too. I like the finger on the pulse social commentary.
Does it move me to act? I think this is where I’m more unsure about Banksy’s role as an activist on the average consumer of his work-, but are we the audience?
Interesting Leila, I hadn't thought about graffiti artists and trust in this way. I'm of the belief that graffiti is indicative of a spirit of freedom, and Banksy has been beating that same drum for so long now that I don't have any problems on that score. He may not move me to act directly from seeing his work but he raises awareness and questions things, and that's why I think his work is so valuable.
I hear what you're saying about not knowing his identity, but that doesn't matter to me. He has been constant in his messaging since the 1990s and I feel like I know what kind of person he is and what his beliefs are.
I agree! Consistency is an ingredient in trust, i love his work because it’s instantly recognisable, and because it’s clever work that tries to emulate it doesn’t quite hit the mark either.
I've always loved Banksy's work. He's a constant, always popping up somewhere, and I find that weirdly reassuring. He's like an institution, sort of like the Queen (when she was alive!). I love his satire. Agree with you Victoria that his work, and other street artists like him, is essential.
Ha! Yes. Banksy is royalty.
I agree that some people are really snobbish about graffiti, but I think the criticism is more than the art form.
Perhaps some of the challenge of taking him seriously as an artists and activist is that we don’t know who he is, how do you hold others account when you are not transparent yourself? The absence of information can really alter how we perceive and trust individuals, and if what we do know or glean from the artists work challenges our beliefs and makes us uncomfortable we are even less likely to ‘like’ them. We view them as being ‘outside’ our group. Some of this could explain the art world in out group bias against Banksy.
I love the satire, I’ve always enjoyed the political satire cartoons in papers too. I like the finger on the pulse social commentary.
Does it move me to act? I think this is where I’m more unsure about Banksy’s role as an activist on the average consumer of his work-, but are we the audience?
Interesting Leila, I hadn't thought about graffiti artists and trust in this way. I'm of the belief that graffiti is indicative of a spirit of freedom, and Banksy has been beating that same drum for so long now that I don't have any problems on that score. He may not move me to act directly from seeing his work but he raises awareness and questions things, and that's why I think his work is so valuable.
We need satire, we need to poke fun at the political stuff, I agree it’s essential.
I hear what you're saying about not knowing his identity, but that doesn't matter to me. He has been constant in his messaging since the 1990s and I feel like I know what kind of person he is and what his beliefs are.
I agree! Consistency is an ingredient in trust, i love his work because it’s instantly recognisable, and because it’s clever work that tries to emulate it doesn’t quite hit the mark either.