Banksy

Figure 1
Banksy – Napalm (2004) Limited edition Print
Screen Print
20 x 28 in | 51 x 71 cm

A beautiful perspective on the cynical side of human beings, simply quoted in a few words.   “People are taking the piss out of you every day. They butt into your life, take a cheap shot at you and then disappear. They leer at you from tall buildings and make you feel small. They make flippant comments from buses that imply you are not sexy enough and that all the fun is happening somewhere else. They are on TV, making your girlfriend feel inadequate. They have access to the most sophisticated technology the world has ever seen and they bully you with it. They are the advertisers and they are laughing at you”, by Banksy 2005, p.31)

British graffiti artist, known as Banksy, entertains the world with his works, engaging and expressing political agendas and beliefs into his art in an imaginative way, displaying his views and opinions for all to see and interpret. The general public rarely get exposed to the works of artists and their viewpoints, Banksy’s choice of medium, mainly graffiti, sprayed utilizing common public spaces, such as walls, buildings and streets around London, screen-prints etc., displaying persuasive political messages that are subsequently immerged within the artworks. Banksy is more influential upon the general population than traditional artists and other graffiti artists, because as his creative designs are placed in public spaces they grasp the public’s attention more effectively than a traditional painting, and his political messages gain attention and exposure.  

The main issues Banksy addresses are capitalism, war, poverty and governments, normally controversial in nature, that are humorous, which some artists lack or imply a blunt messages, that engage the public in thought, in some cases cause a change. Keeping his identity secret has made him popular and famous worldwide with a cult of followers, taking and exposing street art to a new...