Andrew Chen
Professor Wollman
IDC 1001H EMWCH
November 25, 2013
Power of a Name: Banksy
A newly created work of art appears on the roof of a building, the side of an alley, on the gate of store, and even on a small strip of cement on the bottom of a building. From political themes, to just stencils of people and animals, Banksy, graffiti artist, “purported millionare, activist, filmmaker and prankster” (Smith) has artwork spread throughout the five boroughs. However, what exactly is the definition of art? Yes sure, the Oxford dictionary defines art as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power,” but what is art?
Can graffiti be called art? Popular artists such as Banksy and Meres One have turned graffiti art into something more than art. It is a way of expressing ideas, demonstrating political values, and addressing social themes. But what lies behind Banksy’s work? He made New York City, a huge art hub and portal to art history and culture, his own personal canvas for a month. Dubbed “Better Out Than In”, Banksy’s post in New York City brought new graffiti stencils that appeared in the middle of the night and caused a lot of publicity and hysteria. Not only do his stenciled works address some problems in society such as the corruptness of humans, but they also come in the form of street sculptures, videos, and performance art. Definitely a sight to see, with the sphinx made out of rubble, as well as a piece titled “The Sirens of the Lambs,” which consists of robot sheep and cow heads bleating on the way to slaughter.
Sebastian Brady of the Guardian sums up Banksy’s controversy in a single sentence: “Is Banksy really just an act, a name, a cultural phenomenon?” This brings up the question of what exactly is the significance of Banksy’s name. Does his name carry any weight to it? However it also leads to such questions about his reputation. Is his fame due to his actual work or his notoriety? Did the general public hype up his name and work so highly, such that he is a phenomenon? When Banksy altered a painting he bought from a charity thrift shop, “The Banality of the Banality of Evil,” and gave it back to the same thrift shop, it ended up auctioning for $615,000. However, when Banksy set up a small stand selling some of his works for $60, without advertising and making it known that they were Banksy works, sales were slow and few. This suggests that the name of Banksy, which is attached to many of his works, plays an important role in his popularity. It even suggests that the general public isn’t interested in the actually art, but rather, Banksy’s name.
Such graffiti stencils created by Banksy during “Better Out than In” address “underlying human problems that are hard to think about.” However, why does it seem that the public is more attracted to the name attached to this artwork, rather than the artwork itself? Every time a new Banksy work is discovered and revealed, crowds of Banksy fans and Banksy haters alike stalk it. There are even those who try to steal the artwork, if possible, for themselves or to just for the sake of destroying it. Had the name of Banksy not be revealed as the artist for these works of art, there would be no people tracking it down, and no hype for it. Publicity would greatly be diminished due to no mobs and vandalizing attempts. With the rise of stories about Banksy and his work, he is becoming a controversial topic amongst fans and haters alike.
The use of Banksy’s name also brings out the greed and competitiveness in society. Every time a new Banksy work was revealed, people who had never heard of him were joining the bandwagon to try and catch a glimpse, and join the Banksy hysteria during his stay in New York City. Owners of buildings that Banksy used as his canvas, even if they have not heard of him, hire guards and frame the works in plexiglass. This is interesting as the notoriety of Banksy automatically gives a higher value for a work of art he’s created or retouched. This leads one to believe that Banksy’s title and reputation, as well as renown affects the prices of his work, and makes up the value of his work in general. Subtract the name, as seen with the anonymous selling of his art at a stand, leads to little publicity and sales, although revenue isn’t the main point for Banksy.
All in all, the legend of Banksy thrives on his anonymity and mysteriousness. The seemingly sudden appearances of stenciled graffiti from the middle of the night attract viewers and bystanders, Banksy fans and dissenters alike. The value of his art and name are synonymous – they both provide an important aspect in terms of notoriety and political statements. Whether the general public understand the propaganda and messages Banksy is trying to convey with each piece or not, the fact still remains that Banksy is engaged in promoting his ideas actively. As a true artist seeking to protect graffiti as an art, Banksy states, after his month long residency in New York City, “Save 5Pointz.”
Works Cited
Boyette, Chris. “Banksy Bids Farewell to New York with Balloons.” CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Brady, Sebastian. “Banksy May Be Popular, But Is He an Artist? |.” Banksy May Be Popular, But Is He an Artist? |. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Dilts, Elizabeth. “First Pieces from Banksy’s New York Stunt to Go on Sale.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Smith, Roberta. “Banksy Makes New York His Gallery for a Month.” Nytimes.com. NYTIMES, 30 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
