Tuesday 29 September 2009

Why Banksy Canvas Art Often Faces Opposition

For those who thought Banksy was only the ‘good man’ in the books of the public, you are wrong because the artist has faced several attempts to deface his works.

Banksy canvas art is almost like a delicacy of sorts. If you are a fan of his works, you would have to be in some of the international cities or London to see the artist’s works. However, many attempts have been made to deface or mar the beautiful creations of this artist. Most of these persons are looking for a quick piece of fame in destroying his works.

Why the opposition

One of the main reasons why Banksy canvas art receives so much opposition is because he tries to show society for what it is. Whether it is about cruelty, injustice, corruption, politics etc., Banksy tries to show the ironic side of society. There is always a sarcastic, satirical element to his paintings, which many people do not take to very kindly. Most people and the media speculate that the persons destroying his works are grown-ups and not children. The height of each Banksy canvas art is usually quite high up so it would be very difficult for small children to be able to reach that height.

The artist himself

Many persons have also speculated that Banksy himself has destroyed many a Banksy canvas art creation. Often, people upload pictures of these original works and post them on auction sites like eBay etc. These paintings are then sold at exorbitant prices, which have invoked the fury of some people. They are of the opinion that selling his works for such high prices is quite ridiculous especially when these paintings are commonplace in the streets of London. Many times, several Banksy canvas art works have been destroyed within a couple of days. Often, portions of the paint have been wiped out with roller paint in another colour. One such painting even had the phrase ‘all the best’ on it and many speculate this was done by the artist himself. Banksy being the elusive, recluse he is, does not approve of selling his works especially at such exorbitant prices.

Fleeting works of art

In the earlier days, a Banksy canvas art could be seen on the streets of London cities many days at a stretch. Now, it is an entirely different story altogether. These days, getting to see such paintings for many days is a rarity and most often, people tend to remove them within a few days. The main reason for such removal of Banksy canvas art is because of the growing dissent of the commercialisation of his works and the extreme media attention showered on his paintings. Many Londoners actually hate the artist because they believe he has purposely called media attention to himself and his works and that is in bad taste. It almost seems as though everything was fine until Banksy got such massive media attention. Many of his contemporaries have disliked the huge popularity and attention Banksy commands, especially given the fact that he chooses to remain elusive. It can be quite frustrating for contemporary artists to see their work being less appreciated compared to Banksy canvas art when they are the ones giving more interviews and being in the limelight more often! Though Banksy does excel in graffiti, his work is truly art and conveys social messages of tremendous importance.

Thursday 13 August 2009

Why Banksy Canvas Art Is So Popular

Banksy is famous for his graffiti, thought-provoking street art. Here are some reasons why this form of canvas art is so popular.

When it comes to the world of artists, none can compare to the elusive Banksy. Banksy canvas art is both a revered art form and yet criticised for being so commonplace.

His difference

The primary reason why Banksy canvas art is so popular is because of the artist himself. Banksy prefers to remain elusive and inaccessible to the public. Everyone in London has their own opinion and account of what this artist looks like. However, no one can provide a correct account because no one has seen him in person. He strikes at the streets of London and uses his art to depict thought-provoking wit and humour – all the time making his art accessible to the public. Whilst other artists are busy in self-promotion and being in the limelight, Banksy creates more of an impression by remaining elusive.

The gorgeous art tour

If you walk past the streets of London, you will see the unmistakable imprint of Banksy canvas art on the walls. These art forms are depicted in bold colours, prints and designs and often reflect the culture and politics of the hip side of London. These are satirical depictions of the life and times of urban London and Banksy does a perfect job of blending his art with sarcasm.

Beauty amidst filth

Most of the Banksy canvas art paintings are along the walls of low-class London. Thus, you will find his paintings adorning the walls of the filthy by-lanes, withered plants and dirty buildings. However, you cannot fail to be impressed at the sheer beauty and brilliance of these paintings. Each one is a masterpiece in its own right and holds a special whimsical message of its own.

Pressing subjects

Most of the Banksy canvas art depicts the harsh realities of life but in a humorous and poignant manner. Take for example, the painting depicting an angel mourning the death of a street artist and wearing a vest of bullet-proof materials. Or consider the painting of the ethnic maid who is sweeping the trash underneath a white drape. These paintings show the social reality of racism, social class divides, poverty, corruption and a whole lot of other issues, which plague society today. Banksy remains an elusive yet pervasive figure in the art scene of London. In an art world where every artist is struggling to get a share of the limelight, Banksy prefers anonymity. He chooses to leave his mark through his art, creating public awareness about crucial subjects and leaving more of an impression than his other ‘popular’ counterparts. Banksy canvas art defies all conventional, traditional norms of art and instead chooses to make society think. In effect, this is what art is truly supposed to do and Banksy accomplishes this objective like no other artist. His paintings do not invoke the conventional reverential exclamations. Rather, they challenge societal norms and attitudes and do a great job of questioning the way we live. Through these paintings, any passer-by gets to see the cultural flavour of an entire neighbourhood, the newest masterpiece by the artist himself and much more!