Banksy - The Art of the Prank

April 24, 2010December 15, 2023

Banksy & Robbo Up the Anty. Perfect Timing.

Banksy graffiti feud given a fresh coat
by Alexandra Topping
guardian.co.uk
23 April 2010

Banksy alters King Robbo ‘tag’ on Regent’s canal “¢ King Robbo retaliates but some cry publicity stunt

The history of art has been coloured by fierce and often glaringly public feuds between celebrated artists of the day. From Turner and Constable to Whistler and Ruskin, long-standing and public battles have kept generations of art lovers engrossed, outraged or simply amused.

But few artistic spats have been played out in such a public manner as the current standoff between Banksy, the internationally renowned bestselling graffiti artist, and King Robbo, one of the founding fathers of London’s graffiti scene.

The battle, which started on the banks of the Regent’s canal in the capital before Christmas, has stepped up a gear with the Bristolian apparently launching a new attack on King Robbo’s work. Continue reading “Banksy & Robbo Up the Anty. Perfect Timing.”

April 16, 2010December 15, 2023

Banksy — Laughing All the Way to the Bank?

Update April 19, 2010: The question of whether or not this film is a hoax keeps coming up. The answer seems extremely obvious to us, but here’s some fodder from Web Concepts:

Here”s Why the Banksy Movie Is a Banksy Prank

Riddle? Yes. Enigma? Sure. Documentary?
By Melena Ryzik
The New York Times
April 13, 2010

Is there an art-world equivalent of crying wolf? If so, Banksy has probably done it.

Banksy”s film follows the efforts of Thierry Guetta at being a filmmaker and an artist.

Banksy, the pseudonymous British street artist, has built his reputation on stunts “” like inserting his own work among the masters” in museums “” that taunted the market in which his pieces sold for millions. But with his latest project, the documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” he is laboring to convince audiences that he”s playing it straight. Continue reading “Banksy — Laughing All the Way to the Bank?”

January 24, 2010December 15, 2023

Banksy Film “Exit Through The Gift Shop” to Premiere at Sundance

As seen on TheFilmStage.com, January 21, 2010:

Graffiti Artist Banksy To Debut Mysterious New Film. by Raffi Asdourian

banksy_museum_exit_through_the_gift_shop-200 Banksy, the renowned British graffiti artist, whose artworks are often satirical diatribes on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics, is shocking the independent film world with what may be the greatest film prank of all time. “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” billed as “A Banksy Film” , will have its world premiere Sunday night at the Library Center Theater as part of Sundance”s Spotlight Surprise.

“Sundance has shown films by unknown artists, but never an anonymous one,” said festival director John Cooper. He described the film as “part personal journey and part expose on the art world, with its mind-altering mix of hot air and hype.”

Source Reuters

This explains odd Banksy art popping up around Park City. You can view the trailer for the film below and attempt to decipher the mystery to what the film is all about. Check out some of his graffiti art below as well.

Continue reading “Banksy Film “Exit Through The Gift Shop” to Premiere at Sundance”

January 3, 2010December 15, 2023

Banksy v. Robbo — Tag! You’re It!

Banksy rival King Robbo has the final word in street art feud
by Fiona Hamilton
The Times
December 30, 2009

Not since the rivalry of Picasso and Matisse, which prompted the Spanish master”s friends to throw missiles at his French counterpart”s work, has there been such a clash between artistic camps.

This time, though, the hostility has arisen over the sweep of a spray can rather than the delicate dabbing of a paintbrush.

Banksy_1_665277a-425

Banksy”s painting of a mural over a rival”s work, which had been left untouched for more than 25 years, has provoked an online assault against one of the country”s most popular artists. Scathing remarks were posted on internet forums yesterday about Banksy”s image of a workman pasting over a wall of graffiti in Camden, North London. The painting covered up the work of Robbo, a renowned street artist who pioneered the capital”s graffiti tagging scene in the 1980s.

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It appears that Robbo returned to the site over Christmas to paint “King Robbo” in giant letters over Banksy”s work. It appears as though Banksy”s character is painting the phrase, thus paying homage to Robbo. Continue reading “Banksy v. Robbo — Tag! You’re It!”

September 21, 2009December 15, 2023

Banksy Takes On IKEA Croydon

‘Large Graffiti Slogan’ by Banksy
by John Lundberg of circlemakers.org
September 21, 2009

banksy_ikea-200 Banksy has created a new street piece, this time somewhat off the beaten track in Croydon, Surrey, on the outskirts of London.

The piece depicts a punk struggling to assemble a flat pack graffiti slogan – purchased from IEAK – on the wall behind him. The piece obviously references the home furnishing store IKEA. The placement of the piece is well thought out, as is usual for Banksy. Over the wall you can see the distinctive twin towers of IKEA, Croydon, with their yellow and blue branding. Also, the piece is situated between two billboards.

The text on the box reads ‘LARGE GRAFFITI SLOGAN (some assembly required)’, a witty reference to off the peg anarchy. The punk character with his distinctive five pointed Mohican haircut was previously featured in a painting on display at the Banksy Versus Bristol Museum Summer Show called ‘Don’t Forget Your Scarf’.

More photos: Continue reading “Banksy Takes On IKEA Croydon”