Exit Through the Gift Shop is a documentary about the emergence of the street art movement. It is directed by “Banksy,” a noted street artist whose work ended up selling for thousands of dollars at Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses. The documentary’s main character is Theirry Guetta, a guy who is portrayed as partly retarded and partly brilliant, and the viewer is never sure whether to laugh at or with him. Banksy, whose face is never seen (even his hands are covered in gloves, and his voice is distorted by a voice disguiser) is genius. I don’t want to give the plot away, but I will say that Banksy’s cheeky chutzpah gives this documentary a cool, fun side that’s missing from so many docs that take themselves too seriously. Whether it’s Banksy’s fabulous British deadpan humor or the fact that he remains in mysterious secrecy throughout, he is a character that wriggles his way into your gut. I find myself still thinking about him days after I’ve watched the doc. See it! And let me know what you think.
Banksy is seen by other street artists, as a bit of a traitor, too successful for his own good. He is a brand in his own right now.
ReplyDeleteBanksies that deride commercialism are seen as rather hypocritical and vacuous, a bit like Lennon singing "Imagine".
Here is a connection for you. There are three Banksy's dotted around just outside of where the Hasidic community is based in North London's Stamford Hill, one of which made national news last year having been almost entirely eradicated by a sad graffiti removal team in Hackney under instruction.
The owner of the land upon which the Banksy had been painted stopped them but much of the damage had been done by then.
Bansky being seen as a traitor is interesting. Though I suppose there's a bit of envy in that mix. Street art is about making a mark, being noticed if only temporarily, and the fact is, Bansky *is* noticed. Big time. So there's gotta be some jealousy for that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Bansky's becoming his own commercialized brand was inevitable. No matter how anti-establishment you are, once you're successful, you *are* the establishment. Ginsburg, Kerouac, that entire Beat Generation who fought the establishment -- they're the establishment now. Their work is studied in college classes. They have become part of the "canon." Ironic, but that's how it works.
It is quite a bit about not getting caught, playing dodgems with the powers that be too, and coming up with outlandish places to tag where the setting will in some way form part of the art.
ReplyDeleteLots of street art is removed within hours, as you imply. It is a fascinating world, theirs.
It's BanKSy. Bansky is the butcher down the block.
ReplyDeleteOmg, I can't believe I kept repeating this mistake. I'll correct it right now. Thanks so much.
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