Video: Remote Banksy: What a controversial street artist does in self-isolation
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Imagine for a moment that you are an elusive street art guru suddenly trapped in a total quarantine. Yes, it is said about Banksy … He also, like all of us, sits at home. Banksy posted on Instagram several photos in which the painted rats wreak havoc in the artist's bathroom, as if tomorrow never came. The famous street art master hides his true identity, no one can say for sure that they know his name for sure.
World terrorism, wars and social inequality are not all the topics that Banksy touches on in his works. The street art master is insanely popular. His paintings instantly gain cult status. Despite all this, Banksy manages to maintain his anonymity and sell his paintings at the most prestigious auctions in the world absolutely incognito.
Everyone is extremely interested in the question, who could Banksy be? Little is known about the artist. Two irrefutable facts - he is English by nationality, and his pseudonym is Banksy … He is a master of underground and street art, an art connoisseur, a talented artist. In his works, he focuses the attention of mankind on its global problems. His paintings contain an incredibly deep philosophical meaning and socio-political overtones.
Now is the time when urban spaces and their concrete canvases are no longer an affordable option for Banksy. The enterprising artist found an alternative to showcase his undeniable skill. The bathroom doesn't seem like the most inspiring place in the world at first, but this guy proves we're wrong.
On April 15, Banksy posted on Instagram several pictures of painted rats smashing his bathroom. One rat is drawing sticks on the wall, probably counting the days until quarantine ends. In total, the artist depicted nine rats. He signed his post: "My wife hates it when I work from home."
Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, Banksy's art is still valued. The British artist made a whopping $ 1.4 million from Sotheby's online sale, proving that people will buy Banksy under any circumstance. The final selling price was much higher than the original estimate. It was estimated that 47% of buyers were new to Sotheby's and 30% of bidders were under 40.
As to who this mysterious artist is, there are many versions and all kinds of guesses. Maybe Robin or Robert Banks, or maybe Robin Cunningham. It is believed that this could be an artist who draws comics - Jamie Hewlett. The most plausible version seems to be that this is Robert Del Naya - a musician and founder of the trip-hop group Massive Attack. After all, exactly where the musicians performed, Banksy graffiti suddenly appeared.
In 2019, the ITV broadcaster introduced the public to an old video where Banksy was interviewed by Haig Gordon. The artist's face was hidden with a T-shirt. Banksy told the journalist that he hides his face, wanting to remain anonymous, because without this, his activity as a street artist is simply impossible.
He began his career as a street art master in the late 90s. At first, these were not very significant graffiti on the walls of cities. After some time, the street artist's drawings began to be filled with an ever deeper philosophical meaning. Later Banksy began to use stencils. It's much faster and safer this way, because graffiti on buildings is punishable by fines.
A mysterious incident that took place in London, or rather in several of its record stores, is associated with the name of Banksy. Discs with musical recordings of Paris Hilton someone replaced the records with the song Danger Mouse. The disc was decorated with drawings of an elusive street art master. This incident made Banksy famous.
At the Berlin International Film Festival (Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin) "Berlinale" in 2010, Banksy presented his author's work "Exit through the souvenir shop". He walked the red carpet, but was not identified by anyone. In 2011, a very unusual lot was announced at eBay. It was a piece of paper where, according to the seller, who wished to remain anonymous, he wrote what Banksy's name actually was. He stated that the street artist's true name had been declassified. Anonymous managed to do this by reconciling the sales data of Banksy's works with tax records. The starting price of the lot was three thousand dollars. At the auction, its price rose to a million. True, for unclear reasons, the lot was withdrawn from sale.
In 2013, the street art maestro staged an interesting action in Central New York Park. Banksy sold eight of his paintings to several passers-by for sixty dollars apiece. He stated that these are reproductions and copies of a famous street artist. The true cost of each work was at least $ 30,000.
When Banksy graffiti was painted black in Bristol in 2011, residents were outraged and called it vandalism. Banksy is without a doubt a great modern philosopher. He is worried about all the most painful issues of today's reality. These are wars, social injustice, and the fate of children, homeless, abandoned animals. The townspeople do not wash or sketch Banksy's drawings on their homes, but carefully keep them.
One of the most expensive works of the mysterious master of street art is called "Slave Labor". It was created for the sixtieth anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II. At the auction, this painting was bought for 1 million 100 thousand dollars. Banksy's most expensive work to date is Pest Control. It was sold for a record $ 1,900,000.
In 2018, an extraordinary incident occurred at the Sotheby’s auction. Banksy's painting "Girl with a Balloon" was purchased for $ 1, 4 million. However, immediately after the end of the auction, the shredder, which was installed in the painting, cut it into shreds. Banksy stated that in this way he decided to demonstrate to everyone the fact that "the desire to destroy is also a creative drive." This is what the famous Russian thinker and philosopher Mikhail Bakunin said. The most interesting thing about this is that the shredder cut only part of the image. The new painting, as a result, was named "Love in the Trash Bin" and doubled in price just instantly.
If you are interested in the topic of street art, read our article. 6 talented street artists who can squeeze out Banksy
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