Banksy

Banksy - art outlawed

Banksy’s works pose questions and provoke reflection, rather than providing ready-made answers. This iconic artist predominantly employs stencil graffiti in his work, a technique which significantly accelerates his process and helps evade police apprehension. Despite being one of the most renowned and esteemed street artists, he is still officially considered a vandal. This mysterious creator uses walls to express thoughts, incite contemplation, bring about change, and share the love that emanates powerfully from his art. Through his anonymous voice, he reminds us of values such as peace, freedom, and justice.

Anonymity

Banksy’s enigmatic nature has become one of the most distinctive elements of his work. Despite his worldwide fame, the true identity of this British street artist still remains a mystery, which only adds to the interest in his work. Anonymity is an integral part of artistic communication, suggesting that the message contained in the work is more important than the artist himself.

Humour

Humour is a key element of Banksy’s work, which he often uses to express social and political criticism. The intelligent use of humour and irony to draw attention to serious subjects. The use of humour in contexts that are usually seen as heavy or controversial is an important aspect that makes his art so widely appreciated and recognised.

Criticism

Banksy’s work often has strong political and social overtones, criticising various aspects of contemporary society such as consumerism, social inequality, war or surveillance. Using irony and satire, Banksy challenges established power structures and draws attention to the hypocrisy of society. He often surprises with his ability to capture complex themes in simple but powerful images that leave the viewer with strong emotions.

Ukraine

The artist in November 2022, created 7 murals in war-torn Ukraine. Among them, a ballerina standing on her hands on rubble after a Russian bombing and a small judoka knocking down a man with Putin’s face. Both reconstructions from Borodzianka can be admired at the exhibition.

Location

By strategically placing his works, the artist adds an extra level of meaning and context to his message. For example, a mural in Birmingham depicts a reindeer pulling a real bench where homeless people often spend the night. The location also makes his works ephemeral, as they can be removed or destroyed.

Cultural symbols

Through the use of universally recognisable symbols, Banksy creates works that relate to a wider social and cultural context. By manipulating and recontextualising these symbols, the artist provokes discussion about social and political issues. Banksy has himself become a cultural symbol of sorts. His elusive identity and controversial works have become an icon of rebellion, freedom of expression and social criticism.

Consumerism

His work criticises the model of a consumption-based society, showing how over-consumption leads to serious social and environmental problems. Banksy reminds us that true values and happiness do not come from having more stuff, but from a deeper understanding and commitment to social and environmental issues.

Exhibition

The exhibition consists of more than 70 exhibits made in graffiti and oil on canvas. The whole is enriched with spatial installations and multimedia. Banksy’s works adorn the walls of buildings all over the world, and to see them you have to visit many countries. The exhibition ‘Banksy – Outlaw Art’ gives you the opportunity to admire and contemplate his work in one place, without having to escapade across the globe To present the exhibition, 150-300 m2 are required, in one or more rooms. The size of the exhibition can be adapted to your needs and possibilities. For more details, please see “About us”.