Last blog question for semester one- Banksy's work

How can we categorize Banksy's work -graffiti or murals?

Research Banksy's work to attempt to answer this question.
What are some of the differing opinions about Banksy's work?
How does his work sit in relation to consumerism? Can his work be sold?
What are some of his attitudes to the sale of Art?
Who is Banksy? Do we know his true identity?
Upload 2-3 images of Banksy's work that you find interesting, and comment
on the ideas behind the work.



Personally, Banksy is one of my most beloved artists. His work is truly AMAZING!

Baknsy’s work is very politically interwoven. He provides a humorous insight to today’s society with thought provoking images, for example: kids pledging their allegiance to a ‘Tesco’ (Tesco is a British international grocery and general merchandising retail chain) plastic bag; a little man looking down at the price tag under the frame he’s in saying: “You have got to be kidding me..”; and policemen on motorbikes protecting a donut van to name only a few. Because Banksy’s work is mainly graffiti orientated, it’s appealing to the younger generation. Graffiti isn’t considered art, but a destructive way of ruining property. It’s also illegal. However Banksy’s work for some is considered as a mural yet for others it’s just graffiti.

In relation to consumerism, Banksy’s work isn’t for sale. However people do profit from his work by selling his work on different media e.g. t-shirts and canvases.

‘Products not actually included, serving suggestion only. All images are made
available to download for personal
amusement only, thanks.
Banksy does not endorse or profit from
the sale of greeting cards, mugs, tshirts,
photo canvases etc. Banksy is not on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or Gaydar.
Banksy is not represented by any form
of commercial art gallery.’
(http://www.banksy.co.uk/shop/index.html)

Despite much speculation, no one truly knows the identity of Banksy. I think by his lack of retial he is able to seclude his identity. In a statement taken from his website:

“I am unable to comment on who may or may not be Banksy, but anyone described as being 'good at drawing' doesn't sound like Banksy to me.”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy)

3 pictures:




As soon as I saw this piece it reminded me of the war in Iraq. It made me laugh because I thought the statement was about right.



This work reminds me of Jun’s work. It also made me think of child labour and exploitation of children and how it’s mainly adults who enforce children to do their dirty work.




Because Policemen have been stereotyped to eating donuts, when I saw this piece I couldn’t stop laughing. To see them protect something they love, it’s hilarious!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesco
http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/banksy_tesco_pledge_your_allegiance.htm
http://www.banksy.co.uk/indoors/kiddingme.html
http://www.halifax.ca/corporate/graffiti/whatisgraffiti.html

Industrialisation and Art- week 7

1.Define the Industrial Revolution and Industrialism.

The Industrial Revolution began in England around the 18^th century. They saw our process turn from a farming, handicraft economy to a machine manufacture and industrial dominant one. ‘The term ‘Industrial Revolution’ was first popularized by the English economic historian Arnold Toynbee (1852–83) to describe England’s economic development from 1760 to 1840. Since Toynbee’s time the term has been more broadly applied.’ (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/287086/Industrial-Revolution). The Industrial Revolution brought us better utilization of crop and cattle; it saw the improvement of manufacture and transport with the invention of the steam engine by Thomas Newcomen together with John Calley in 1712 (http://inventors.about.com/od/indrevolution/ss/Industrial_Revo.htm). In 1733, John Kay improved the looms on the flying shuttle to enable weavers to weave faster (http://inventors.about.com/od/indrevolution/ss/Industrial_Revo_2.htm).

‘Industrialism - An economic and social system based on the development of large-scale industries and marked by the production of large quantities of inexpensive manufactured goods and the concentration of employment in urban factories.’ (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/industrialism)

Industrialism increases the ‘wealth-creating capacity of modern societies compared with traditional systems’ (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-industrialism.html)

2. Research Monet's painting 'Impression Sunrise'(1873) to analyze the work in relation to Industrialisation.

During the 18^th century The Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Manet illustrates in this painting the idea of progress and the building or the build up to the new improved world, or utopia. In the background, faint images of what looks like a construction site or industrial area are painted in grey, as it distinguishes the colour of metal or steel.

‘The sun is set against the dawn, the orange color against the gray and the vibrant force of the sun against its motionless surroundings. To many spectators, the sun undulates or pulsates slightly. Why is this so? The sun is nearly the same luminance as the grayish clouds. Notice how the sun nearly disappears if you remove the color. (http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/monet.html) This lack of contrast explains the painting’s eerie quality.’ (http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/monet.html)

3.Olafur Eliasson's 'Weather Project'(2006) is a contemporary work that relates to Monet's famous landscape.

The similarity between Olafur Eliasson’s work and Manet’s work is the use of colours, the illusion of the sun (or in Eliasson’s case – the hundreds of monochromatic lamps) . The lamps Eliasson used mimicked the sun and created a late afternoon scene, as did Manet. With the use of the colours orange, yellow and grey and black, they created the feeling of warmth.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olafur_Eliasson#The_weather_project)

Research the project to identitify the artist's intentions, as well as the site (space or venue) chosen for the project, to provide depth for your answer.

'Weather Project' (2006)

Olafur Eliasson