Everything you need to know about Banksy
There are millions of people who have contributed much to the field of art. One such British artist who remains in the news for all the right reasons is Banksy. His work is so iconic that the Time Magazine listed him in the list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2010. This way this street-based artist made his way on the same bandwagon that had Obama and Lady Gaga on it. The interesting thing about this artist is that he doesn’t enjoy the limelight and silently contributes to the world of art in various forms. The internet has less information regarding him, and even the media doesn’t hound him.
For many, he is arguably the best street artist in the world and has quite a large fan following. His artwork is so powerful that it can inspire people to move on in life and wear a smile on their face. His identity remains hidden, and he paddles his work in a very discreet manner. His graffiti artwork is loved by millions of people across the globe. Apart from being an amazing artist, Banksy is a strong headed and fiercely opinionated person. He has a perspective on governmental instability and projects his views through his work. Many times his bold artworks get hidden but are later unveiled owing to high public demand and pressure.
He began working in the early 1990s when vandalism on the walls was very common. His early work consists of graffiti crew that was named DryBreadZ in 1990. Later one he partnered with Inkie, another veteran graffiti artist. He was caught by the police when he was only 18 years old, long time back. Graffiti is illegal in UK and punishable by law. If somebody is caught painting a wall in public that person will be liable to pay £ 5000 and serve quite some time in jail. When he was discovered by the police for the first time, he was caught hiding between a garbage truck.
If you’re a Banksy fan, you will know that he loves stencils and that’s what inspires him to do more work. However, that’s not all, he also uses spray paint to draw elaborate paintings on the street walls. Back then, Banksy started working with stencils for it saved more time. However, today, Banksy’s work is elaborate and is the result of multiple colours, designs and intriguing patterns. Banksy is known for communicating his views through street signs and anything that can give out multiple messages.
Banksy rose to fame in 2000 when he started working in exhibitions. Though his identity remains hidden, millions of aspiring artists draw inspiration from his work. He holds the distinction of working on the Bethlehem wall in Palestine. When he worked there, his images became a rage on the internet and made headlines in the news. Banksy has a record of selling countless number of paintings in several exhibitions and festivals.
He is one of the most speculated people in the world and refuses to be interviewed. He is recognized as one of the best street artists in the world who has evolved in a short time. People who love to splurge on artwork are ready to pay any price for his work. His work is so enticing that people want more piece of it. This is the main reason why people are always craving for more of his work.
Media always questions his identity because of several issues. Just a few months back the media claimed that his name is Robin Gunninham and is a Bristol native. However, his fans rubbished all rumours. No matter what gossip mongers have to say, Banksy has a habit of vocalising his opinion through creative work. More shocking it is to know that his own family doesn’t know about the work he does.
He arranged an art project back in 2015 called Dismaland, a theme built park in England. This was a secret project that showcased ten more art pieces by Banksy and many other veteran artists. Banksy’s work is popular across the globe and continues to inspire many people. He travels to different countries around the globe to grab positive energy for his work. The beauty of his work is that it is a slice of life and people easily relate to it. Fans claim that most recently he visited New York City to present his new work.
Shockingly, many of his artworks got destroyed by vandalism after receiving hate from people. Back in 2008, a Melbourne based person’s coat as destroyed that was inspired by Banksy’s work. Many of Banksy’s artworks have been defamed in New York City because of their controversial messages. Fans know that Banksy is a fiercely opinionated person who doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind. All he needs are a few tools and concrete thoughts to project whatever he wants. Hadn’t it been for his artworks, the world would have missed iconic pieces of creativity.
Have you ever seen “Shop until You Drop”? This iconic painting sparked massive controversy because it was painted on one of the top-notch buildings in London. Through painting, Banksy declared an open war against the government and encouraged people to vote for capitalism. Similarly, his other works give out a social message that is central to something concrete. Banksy has thousands of critics but that doesn’t stop him from doing what he loves to do.
Peter Gibson, an important personality for Keep Britain Tidy claims that Banksy’s work is plain vandalism and nothing but a discouragement of the urban culture. He also shocked people by saying that Banksy’s work is liked by idiots. He was also criticised for copying the work of other veteran artists like Blek le Rat who introduced the stencil techniques for painting back in the 1980s. Many critics say that Banksy’s work is cliché and is relatable with the work of any other artist out there. Despite much criticism, he hasn’t stopped and continues to shine the world with his iconic pieces of art.
