The graffiti-realised social commentary of Banksy has been met with critical acclaim worldwide. The anonymous artist was propelled to prominence in the early age of the internet, where his simple but genius renderings of ironic political musings resonated with the masses. Banksy pieces inspire activism, hope, and cynicism all at once, and can fetch millions of pounds. He continues to grow as a relevant figure even two decades after his initial breakthrough.
While choosing to remain nameless, Banksy has gone on record in interviews and books like Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall and Wall and Piece with some interesting observations about the world. Here is a selection of some of his most poignant, depressingly funny, and thought-provoking remarks:
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
“Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else.”
Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world I can't even finish my second apple pie.”
“There are four basic human needs; food, sleep, sex and revenge.”
“There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.”
“People who enjoy waving flags don't deserve to have one”
“Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for.”
“The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists.. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little.”
“You owe the companies nothing. You especially don't owe them any courtesy. They have rearranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don't even start asking for theirs.”
“‘Brandalism’: any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It's yours to take, rearrange and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.” And perhaps one of his harder pills to swallow:
"Nothing is black and white, and there is no purity and there is no such thing as justice.”
Take a look at the Girl With Balloon print on display in The Palma Gallery, from a 2004 edition of 600.
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