Wall and Piece
tudouwang
By tokyo111 (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviewsThis
review is from: Wall and Piece (Hardcover)
Think art has lost its edge? Witness the art of England's Banksy and
reconsider.
His message: that if the powerful and wealthy get to force-feed
consumerist propaganda to citizens via giant billboards... then
citizens have the right to reply in kind. To that end he's trekked
around the world throwing up politically pointed, often funny, always
eye-popping street art wherever he damn well pleases: On sidewalks, on
train trestles, on the West Bank wall between Israel and Palestine, in
monkey cages at the zoo, in the world's great museums (unbeknownst to
the curators, of course), and on farm animals (yes, ON them).
"Wall and Piece" is a "best of" overview of Banksy's career, and
impresses on a lot of levels. There's the skill and variety of
Banksy's techniques (stencils, illustrations, paintings, screenprints
and sculptures are all on display). There's the caustic wit of his
writing (expressed here in almost epigrammatic blurbs about art and
politics). And there's his genius as a prankster. Example: Not content
merely to graffitti a blank wall in Westminster, Banksy instead throws
up an official-looking "This Wall Is A Designated Graffitti Area"
stencil (complete with a "royal" crest swiped off a pack of
cigarettes)... and watches others do the work for him.
For those yearning for art that's active... that excites and inspires
instead of merely placating... this is the book of the year. One
warning: it sits on your coffee table like a social land mine. Guests
come over, crack it open, and it obliterates conversation for a while
as they get sucked in. Completely Addictive. Highly recommended.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“People look at an oil painting and admire the use of brushstrokes to
convey meaning. People look at a graffiti painting and admire the use
of a drainpipe to gain access.”
–Banksy
“Since spotting my first few Banksies I have been desperately seeking
out more. They make me smile and feel optimistic about the
possibilities of shared dreams and common ownership.”
–Simon Hattenstone, Guardian
About the Author
His identity remains unknown, but his work is prolific, and now for
the first time, he is putting together the best of his work — old and
new in a fully illustrated colour volume.
Banksy, real name unknown, was born in Bristol.
Book Description
Publication Date: April 1, 2007
Banksy, Britain's now-legendary "guerilla" street artist, has painted
the walls, streets, and bridges of towns and cities throughout the
world. Not only did he smuggle his pieces into four of New York
City's major art museums, he's also "hung" his work at London's Tate
Gallery and adorned Israel's West Bank barrier with satirical images.
Banksy's identity remains unknown, but his work is unmistakable—with
prints selling for as much as $45,000.
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