There is graffiti and then there is graffiti - Page 2

**Maggy J** · 17-09-2006, 23:50

He is an artist who merely uses graffitti as his medium of choice.As to selling out how the hell do you draw that inference?People have to eat and have a place to sleep.Art has always come at a price and too many artists have starved in garrets.Too right that he sells his work at the highest price he can.

Frankly I'd like to step back in time and buy a Van Gogh or two..He might not have died thinking he was despised as an artist then and I'd have a fantastic work of art.

Gareth · 18-09-2006, 00:11

It's more to do with the fact that he's a radicalist, a self-declared "art terrorist", which makes me beg the question as to whether he has "sold out".

The NY Times apparently considered it too

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY Times

Such a show — complete with advance publicity, an opening party with valet parking and Hollywood glitterati, including Jude Law and his posse, and sales of numbered prints at $500 each — would seem to go against Banksy’s rebel image.

“Yes, there probably is some contradiction,” Banksy’s spokesman, Simon Munnery, said on Thursday in an interview at the warehouse in a commercial district east of downtown. (Details on the exhibition site can be found at www.banksy.co.uk.)

“It depends on what he does with the money, right?” Mr. Munnery added. “Maybe he makes more art. Maybe he’s getting more ambitious.”

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/ar...gn/16bank.html (subscription)

**Maggy J** · 18-09-2006, 00:20

But it's a bit much to expect someone to have a talent and not profit by it...I mean you could say it about anyone really.What about people who take to a sport and become good at it and play for the sheer love of it..Then someone wants them to play for them professionally..would you consider that selling out?

Sometimes I think we are a bit too 'precious' about art.Frankly much as I love doing art for arts sake IF someone wanted to buy anything of mine I'd sell it in a heartbeat.

Kliro · 18-09-2006, 01:19

It's not the talent though - it was what people saw him as standing for before.

I can only use a fairly bad analogy here because it's late and I'm listening to country music (god knows why)

Say there was a small town/village where you lived. And there was a very talented councellor(sp?) who stood up for the village and made sure the voices were heard - you felt they made a difference.

Then they opted for a position of working for someone else, for more money - and no longer had your interests at heart.

bad analogy, but it makes sense to me.

SlackDad · 18-09-2006, 06:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

But it's a bit much to expect someone to have a talent and not profit by it...I mean you could say it about anyone really.What about people who take to a sport and become good at it and play for the sheer love of it..Then someone wants them to play for them professionally..would you consider that selling out?

Sometimes I think we are a bit too 'precious' about art.Frankly much as I love doing art for arts sake IF someone wanted to buy anything of mine I'd sell it in a heartbeat.

Agree with you about being too precious about art. I don't particularly think the fact he's an artist makes any difference at all. It all depends on what type of statement he was making with his art. As I don't know too much about his work it is difficult for me too say, but if, for instance, his work took an anti-capitalist/establishment stance then you can see where the claims are coming from. I suppose also that supporters are worried that his work may lose its edge, in the same way that a young, more radical politician may soften their stance and supposed beliefs when they rise the ranks.

He may of course be taking the **** out of people with more money than sense, and if that is the case good luck to him. Interesting that Bristol Council have decided to keep his work. Wonder what came first? The Brad/Angelina sale or Bristol's decision?

hatedbythemail · 18-09-2006, 07:52

sold out? his paris hilton work was a subversive masterpiece! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5310416.stm

Gareth · 18-09-2006, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlackDad

He may of course be taking the **** out of people with more money than sense, and if that is the case good luck to him.

Yep, judging by this piece, I think you may be right.

gazzae · 18-09-2006, 09:55

I see nothing wrong with him selling his art.
How come he is only selling out now when he has been producing books of his art for years?

Is there a certain threshold that you can earn up to before "selling out"?

Kliro · 18-09-2006, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlackDad

He may of course be taking the **** out of people with more money than sense, and if that is the case good luck to him. Interesting that Bristol Council have decided to keep his work. Wonder what came first? The Brad/Angelina sale or Bristol's decision?

bristols decision, it was made a good while ago now.

budwieser · 18-09-2006, 19:50

I don`t think `Banksy` is selling out at all, He`s a damn fine artist and if he can make some money out of it, Why not?

me283 · 21-09-2006, 18:15

I bought his book "Wall and Piece" a while back, and have to say it's amazing. Where the guy gets his ideas from is anybody's business; but not only that, to put them into such visuals is just genius.

Has he sold out? I don't think so. In this day and age, why not make a profit from something you can do well? After all, life is getting very expensive.