There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/5193552.stm

I must say it's not really graffiti..it's modern art.:)

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

I like it, not the normal rubbish you see on walls :) someones took some time to make that.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Contemporary art ;) but as it unauthorized defacing of a building it has to be graffiti

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

What ever happened to the really good graffiti artists of the 80's?
Now all I see are simple things like "Baz woz ere" repeated 20 times and very little art

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Banksy has done some fantastic stuff. Check out his website... www.banksy.co.uk - he really is a truly talented artist.

Saying that, it is graffiti... but so are the street artists you get in Bath city centre. I tolerate this style, as would most people, cause at least it is artistic and not just a plain nuisance.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

:bump:

I'm a big fan of Banksy's work, but I just saw this... http://supertouchblog.com/?p=317

There's something not quite right when A-List celebs like Brad and Angelina are snapping up pieces of Banksy's "revolutionary" art to adorn their Hollywood mansions. :( Has he finally sold out...?

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

'fraid it looks like he has...

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Well two different viewpoints on it from the comments on that site:

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Interesting. But I've heard he takes legal advice n' that before doing any piece - so is he truly trying to make a statement, or just doing it for the moolah?

It would make a statement if he replicated the pieces he sold for 100k and sold them for 100 quid.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Do you have to be poor to have a conscience then?

(I should add I'm not very familiar with Banksy's work)

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

I don't really get that statement?

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Why is he accused of 'selling out'? Why is he not credible (apparently) when his work fetches big money?

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

He was at first seen as someone who took a stand, made political points - he was like the voice of the 'small people'

Now people feel he's pandering to clients - working for companies etc. he's not their voice anymore and he doesn't give a damn about them. etc.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

As far as I can see, his artworks aren't overtly political (even though he's done pieces on the wall separating Israel from the West Bank), therefore he can't be accused of 'selling out' in that sense...

If, however, you see all graffiti type art as radical or revolutionary then you could hold to that opinion...

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

A lot of it takes some sort of political stance.

The 'dead' red phone box to sybolise their 'killing' off

Kissing policemen - as gayness in the police was/is taboo.

etc.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

He is an artist who merely uses graffitti as his medium of choice.As to selling out how the hell do you draw that inference?People have to eat and have a place to sleep.Art has always come at a price and too many artists have starved in garrets.Too right that he sells his work at the highest price he can.

Frankly I'd like to step back in time and buy a Van Gogh or two..He might not have died thinking he was despised as an artist then and I'd have a fantastic work of art.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

It's more to do with the fact that he's a radicalist, a self-declared "art terrorist", which makes me beg the question as to whether he has "sold out".

The NY Times apparently considered it too

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

But it's a bit much to expect someone to have a talent and not profit by it...I mean you could say it about anyone really.What about people who take to a sport and become good at it and play for the sheer love of it..Then someone wants them to play for them professionally..would you consider that selling out?

Sometimes I think we are a bit too 'precious' about art.Frankly much as I love doing art for arts sake IF someone wanted to buy anything of mine I'd sell it in a heartbeat.:tu:

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

It's not the talent though - it was what people saw him as standing for before.

I can only use a fairly bad analogy here because it's late and I'm listening to country music (god knows why)

Say there was a small town/village where you lived. And there was a very talented councellor(sp?) who stood up for the village and made sure the voices were heard - you felt they made a difference.

Then they opted for a position of working for someone else, for more money - and no longer had your interests at heart.

bad analogy, but it makes sense to me.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Agree with you about being too precious about art. I don't particularly think the fact he's an artist makes any difference at all. It all depends on what type of statement he was making with his art. As I don't know too much about his work it is difficult for me too say, but if, for instance, his work took an anti-capitalist/establishment stance then you can see where the claims are coming from. I suppose also that supporters are worried that his work may lose its edge, in the same way that a young, more radical politician may soften their stance and supposed beliefs when they rise the ranks.

He may of course be taking the **** out of people with more money than sense, and if that is the case good luck to him. Interesting that Bristol Council have decided to keep his work. Wonder what came first? The Brad/Angelina sale or Bristol's decision?

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

sold out? his paris hilton work was a subversive masterpiece! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5310416.stm

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Yep, judging by this piece, I think you may be right.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2006/09/12.jpg

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

I see nothing wrong with him selling his art.
How come he is only selling out now when he has been producing books of his art for years?

Is there a certain threshold that you can earn up to before "selling out"?

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

bristols decision, it was made a good while ago now.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

I don`t think `Banksy` is selling out at all, He`s a damn fine artist and if he can make some money out of it, Why not? :shrug:

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

I bought his book "Wall and Piece" a while back, and have to say it's amazing. Where the guy gets his ideas from is anybody's business; but not only that, to put them into such visuals is just genius.

Has he sold out? I don't think so. In this day and age, why not make a profit from something you can do well? After all, life is getting very expensive.

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Banksy Sells Original Artwork for $60 in Central Park

http://mashable.com/2013/10/14/banks...rtwork-cheap/#

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

Bump of the year...

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

and the world told banksy what they think lol

Re: There is graffiti and then there is graffiti
 

And look how much free advertising he got....