Biography
Many artists work under a pseudonym, but only a few take it to the extreme like Banksy. He is the phantom in art and is nevertheless currently considered the most successful street artist. The usual marketing patterns do not apply to Banksy, because he has no copyright on his work and also maintains his anonymity.
The artist was probably born around 1974 in Bristol. However, there are different theories about who stands behind the pseudonym, which is meticulously maintained by Banksy himself. Even in films with or about Banksy, such as 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' (2010), which received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, his identity has not yet been revealed.
Banksy first appeared in the area of London with wall works. He works mainly with the stencil technique, as these are best applied quickly by spray cans. Some motifs like 'Girl with Balloon' or 'Flower Thrower' have become icons of contemporary street art. His stencils usually address social grievances, but also political conditions such as the refugee crisis or the Middle East conflict. Banksy also makes his art available to organizations such as Greenpeace or bands for their record covers. He implemented his criticism of the entertainment industry with the temporary theme park 'Dismaland' in England. This represented a parody of the Paris Disneyland and was, according to Banksy's own statement, a theme park for the whole family, which is not suitable for children. Through works by more than 50 artists, such as Damien Hirst or Jenny Holzer, as well as music acts, a successful alternative cultural event was created, which dealt with topics such as dystopias or migration politics.
Since he rejects the usual mechanisms of the art business, his works have been shown in exhibitions organized by himself since 1999. In part, he also hangs his paintings unauthorized in museums, where the works are discovered only after some time, which is why they have the character of guerrilla art, similar to graffiti. Especially Banksy's aversion to the conventions of the art business showed during an auction at Sotheby's in 2018: After the auction of 'Girl with Red Balloon', the print was half destroyed by a shredder hidden in the frame. Through this spectacular happening, the motif and the name Banksy were brought even more into the focus of the public and contribute to the myth of the artist.
