Tina's Take on Banksy

Dear Laura,

I think Banksy is one of the most brilliant artists of our time.  He points to the absurdity of the art world (its excesses and inflation of art worth), our numbness to the violence of our day, questioning what art is, and just a fantastic sense of humor (ex, "the grumpier you are the more assholes you meet" spray painted on the back of a NYC truck). It's also fascinating how he is using all of us and our social media infatuation to make his work a performance piece.  I enjoy how he plays with his audience.  It is real insanity what the art world has become.  And Banksy knows the absurdity of his/her celebrity (we assume 'he', but what if Banksy is a 'she'??).  I wonder if those steeped in the art world know how much she is poking fun at them, while they scramble around and cut walls and remove doors where his art is (however maybe Bansky planned the thievery of his work to show how absurd things have gotten - ha!).

What I really enjoyed with this HBO documentary is how Banksy, puts his work in places in NYC that raises money and awareness to those who are marginalized in the city.  Like I said, one of the most relevant artists today with his/her finger on the pulse of the world.

"Outside is where art should live where it can act as a public service, promote debate, voice concerns, forge identities.  Don't we want a world made of art, not just decorated by it?" ~Banksy

I highly recommend watching this documentary as well as Exit Through the Gift Shop.