And just a hooligan. People only like what he does because of who he is and it's the equivalent of buying certain clothing brands just because of the name.
I like what he does, and like his creativity. Is he overrated? Probably, but that doesn't mean he is ****. It isn't his fault if people love his stuff.
Be pissed off that he'd vandalised my house but realise due to sheep's desires to have anything famous I'd sell the house and move.
While paying off your mortgage and still having probably having enough money in the bank never to have to work again. Moving house is a massive hassle, but I think I'd get over it pretty quickly if that was the deal on the table. Personally, I think Banksy is a genius. Hugely original and actually has something to say about the modern world. Obviously didn't start out for any financial gain. Not remotely overrated in my book. As important as Warhol at the very least.
That's true I guess. He is a hypocrite though. For example he complains about others making money but he's made millions
Yes because sheep see the name. It wouldn't double in value from actually having a knackered fridge outside, it would double in value because of who put the knackered fridge there. The value people put on his work is because of his name not because of what they see.
Why is it hypocritical for someone who's made a lot of money absolutely legitimately to call out those who've got rich by nefarious means?
I think he’s brilliant, personally. But this is what art should do. It divides opinion. Like when Damien Hirst put a big shark in a tank. Loads of people said ‘that’s rubbish, anyone could do that’. But no one else did. He did.
That is really a comment on art in general though, not just Banksy. All influential art divides people. Lots of people think Van Gogh's paintings are terrible, for example...
Including everyone who he ever tried to sell them to during his lifetime! Personally, I think that Tracey Emin's stuff is by and large an absolute bag of wnak, but there are plenty of folk far more qualified than I am who would disagree.
Banksy's art is little more than stencilled cartoons. I see no inherent talent in that. As for him having something to say about modern life, well fair enough but so does everyone and most people on here make the same points on a daily basis. Does that make us all artists? Each to their own and I don't begrudge his success but, for me, he's little more than a construct of the art world's talent for emperor's new clothes syndrome and a skill for self publicity.
I actually like what Banksy does but I do wonder if that value is in the mystery of who he is rather than the subject
I would be so pissed off. All I want is to live in my house that I spent 10 years choosing (Im not good with big decisions and we specifically wanted to live where we do now and would hate to have to move) but as soon as he did that I’d have to either sell up (I couldn’t care less about the money, I’d rather live here) or put up with people constantly visiting it and taking pictures (nope) or paint over it and be vilified for the rest of my life. He can paint someone’s house round the corner thanks.
Those last 5 words are the key to all this. The biggest art is getting away with it. Regardless of his personal style, he’s done something unique. If it wasn’t unique, he just wouldn’t have had the success he has. The world would have just said ‘meh, been done before’. That has artistic merit for me. I’m also frankly amazed his ID is still secret. We live in a world where cameras are always on, yet he’s never been spotted. Not once. Couple of theories, but that’s all. Even though he’s made a film and opened a hotel. I’m genuinely impressed he’s managed to keep his ID secret, given his profile.