Metropolitan stencilsmith Banksy certainly doesn't lack
predecessors,
possible auxiliary identities, or rival "street artists." (or MeFi posts:
1,
2,
3,
etc.) His biggest rival, a shoe repairman from the East End called
ROBBO, has gained an extensive support network, calling itself
Team Robbo (music upon loading).
"Graffiti Wars [47:00]," part of (UK)Channel 4's
"Street Summer" series, documents the rattle-can battle between Banksy and Robbo, as well as the
debates among Councils and residents over what to do with it all. Robbo's art career was taking off; he was commissioned to promote, and
attended the Berlin Film Festival (in disguise), displayed and sold his work at the revered
Pure Evil Gallery, all the while sparring with Banksy...
[more inside]
posted by obscurator
on Sep 14, 2011 -
20 comments
Three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf, London street artist Banksy travels to New Orleans to put up some commemorative pieces, saying the city's levee wall offered "the best painting surface in the state of Louisiana." Some of the pieces are statements on the clean up effort, and some are protests against Fred Radtke, New Orleans' Grey Ghost, who has been described as a
street artist and an
anti-street art crusader.
Like him or hate him, expect more of the same from Bansky: propaganda, magical realism, cartoon rats, a lot of technical finesse and a complete lack of subtlety. See the pictures on
his site with irreverent/poignant commentary and then go to the
flickr pool to see it from a few local perspectives.
posted by elr
on Aug 31, 2008 -
74 comments
Pinning down the elusive Banksy. "The art world is the biggest joke going," he has said. "It’s a rest home for the overprivileged, the pretentious, and the weak." Yet the stencilist/graffiti writer's pieces regularly sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds at places like Sotheby's--not bad for a man who still remains cloaked in complete anonymity. The
New Yorker gets a rare e-mail interview. [Previously:
1,
2,
3]
posted by dead_
on May 15, 2007 -
33 comments
