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Friday 3 December 2010

Painting of the Month (12): December 2010, Banksy


laist.com
Who is 'Banksy'? Nobody knows. Well, obviously someone does but the general public don't. (Actually he is Robert Banks from Bristol). He is a British grafitti artist who has taken the form to a new level.
This picture, informally, known as 'Banksy's Maid' is a piece of trompe l'oeil ('trick the eye') painted on a London wall and sinced removed or you might prefer the term 'destroyed by the Authorities'.
His stuff is usually humorous and often bitingly political and always very skilled and expertly executed. But he is a bad boy because he uses public spaces - you generally don't see his work hanging in galleries.
He is a people's artist in the truest sense of the word.

26 comments:

THE SNEE said...

Hi Bazza,
I'm intrigued! Am now on my way to see what Mr. Google and Ms. Bing can give me on Banksy. I can't wait! Yay for to discover ice!

bazza said...

Hi Snee. Now you're making me blush.
I was going to make a link to other Banksy stuff but I realised that my sophisticated readers would have the skill to find it for themselves!
Also, I forgot to add a final sentence explaining the second picture but it self-evidently is a pair of gay London policeman.
Naughty Banksy.

John said...

Hi bazza,
Banksy is indeed an artist! I particularly like the maid, it is incredibly realstic, looks like the coyote from Roadrunner could learn a thing or two!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

The Blogger Formerly Known As said...

I’ve got a lot of time for graffiti. It’s like Facebook, only on real walls. The one with the maid is very clever.
The enigmatic, masked blogger

bazza said...

Hello John: I'm sorry but the road runner reference has gone over my head! Oh, wait a minute, he used trompe l'oeil to fool his enemy's. Is that right?

Hi Mask: I like the Facebook reference although graffiti artists are usually anonymous. It's a real shame that this picture no longer exists except photographically. I believe that in some cases whole walls have been removed to preserve a painting.

klahanie said...

Hi bazza,
I heard heard a lot about this Banksy dude and I quite like his art.
I remember that 'graffiti' got a bit out of hand, in Vancouver. So, they set up a designated area outside the court house, of all places, for graffiti artists to display their work.
Have a good weekend and stay warm.

bazza said...

Hello Gary. The problem with the Vancouver scheme is that it takes away the 'naughty' element and thus the thrill for your average graffiti artist. It looks ugly written all over railway trains and places like that.
However Banksy is the exception in being a really skilled artist or, as you say, a 'dude'.

kerrie said...

Hi B
I decided to put a little on this blog too cause I really like the art work and will endeveour to look the guy up
cheers

Denise Covey said...

I love great graffiti and hate it when it gets removed. A big improvement on an ugly brick wall I say.

Thanks for sharing Banksy with us. Glad I found your site through Nefertit.:)

David said...

Dear bazza,
I like Banksy's work and I think he has genuine talent. Unlike some "conceptual" modern art, I like the fact that what he is trying to say is always made very clear and it is always cleverly done.
Thanks, bazza, for highlighting one of our most talented artists.
Yours With Very Best Wishes,
David.

bazza said...

Hello Kerrie, thanks for visiting. I will return the compliment soon.

L'Aussie: Welcome, I'll have to visit your place too. By the way how's the cricket going?

David: Once again, I am pleasantly surprised at the ammount of appreciation there is for Banksy's work. I really thought he would be ridiculed here. You will notice that it didn't stop me from posting!

Kelly said...

Ah, a graffiti artist. There's a load of that type around here. Not as artistic, though. I bet the British cops were happy to see that last painting. I guess those are British cops kissing each other. Correct me if I'm wrong. Eh, never mind... I just saw the reply you made to THE SNEE. If you should happen to see Banksy, tell him to come over here and paint our buildings' walls. :) We need better graffiti artists. Take it easy, bazza and keep away from the egg nog. I might have "spiked it".

joanne said...

oooo... i'm now off to click and find more more more... (again)

bazza said...

Kelly: You are the first to mention the gay London policemen.
I've not seen any kissing cops around here (London suburbs).

joanne: Apparently he has done some work in LA and in New Orleans. Hope you enjoy what you discover, Joanne.

Kate said...

I like!

bazza said...

Kate: Me pleased!

rob said...

Thanks for broadening my horizons again Bazza.

bazza said...

Hello Rob, it's always good to hear from you. Your blog is missed (by me, at least).
I don't believe Banksy has graced the crumbling walls of Oxford with his work yet. Amazingly his art has become so sought after that walls are stolen rather than scrubed these days!

Sir Tom Eagerly said...

I've said it before Bazza and I will say it again: When it comes to art you need look no further than Sir Rolf Harris.
And what is more he paints on canvas, not brick. Clever chap, so he is!

bazza said...

Yes, Sir Tom, and you will probably say it yet again before long.
I dare say you would like the art of one Thomas Kinkade one of America's most collected artists and a painter of kitsch.

Sir Tom said...

And how exactly would you define 'kitsch', old boy?

bazza said...

Kitsch = low art posing as high art, Sir Tom!

joanne fox said...

Did you see The Apprentice last night Bazza? On their London bus tour one of the candidates happened to stumble across a possible Banksy painting on a brick wall. It did look like a Banksy to my untutored eye, but I'd interested to know for sure.

I like that one of the maid sweeping up. What a shame it was removed.

bazza said...

joanne: Yes I did! And I had exactly the same thought. He does have a recognisable style. Let's hope they are now known for what their true value is and not removed (or stolen!)

Hira Animfefte said...

Why on earth would somebody destroy that?! It was beautiful! The philistines! What's wrong with having lovely art brightening up a boring old wall?

Go, Banksy, go! :)

(BTW, did you see the recent Onion headline about 'Banksy revealed to be London grandmother'?)

bazza said...

Hello Hira, welcome to the blog. I didn't see that Onion headline but there has been constant talk about his real identity being revealed. It would be wonderful if that satirical headline turned out to be true! But it won't.