Podcast
Names to Faces: Banksy
Script
For centuries artists have been adding signifiers to their works in order to be identified.The attachment of an artist’s name to their works is one of the most important aspects of documentation. It allows the world to properly identify, categorize, and critique works of art.
But what happens when an artist doesn't care to be credited? Does ego overshadow genius in the world of art? What is lost or even gained through anonymity? Enter: Banksy the revolutionary name with no face.
Banksy is an anonymous street artist and activist. he is most well known for his street art featuring distinctive stencilling, text, and political or social commentary, Despite being a multi-media artist experimenting with installation, sculpture, and even film, Banksy often displays his art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls.
Banksy has been active since the early 1990s and continues to make art, but we will be highlighting his 2013 NYC residency entitled “Better Out Than In”.
During his residency, the elusive artist unveiled at least one work per day, documenting it on both a dedicated website and an Instagram account for authenticity. The commentary ranged from chiefly political to dark humor and satire.
Some commented on the culture of the city. Or it’s history like the October 15th piece which depicted the silhouette of former Twin Towers. An orange flower was placed where one of the planes struck the North Tower on September 11th, 2001.
His October 3rd piece entitled “You Complete Me” was accompanied with an audio recording made to mimic the museum experience. the audio stated at one point, "Are you looking at one of the great artworks of the 21st century? If so, you're in the wrong place."
The artist commented on the commodification of art and the arbitrary nature of art authentication with his October 13th installation. Banksy set up a stand just next to Central Park South with signed pieces of his spray art for sale. Only three people bought, and one negotiated a 50% discount.
Some of his works openly invited conversation, critique, and even dove into deep philosophical thought.
While others expressed the pressure and sometimes failure to create art.
During his NYC residency and throughout his career, Banksy continues to push the limits on what we consider art.
Is the value of art in the style or skill of an artist? Is it in its monetary value? Is it in its message? Does art have to have a message to be valuable? Is it in its permanence or can great art come and go?
He also harkens the question if an artist’s name adds value to a work of art, or is it his anonymity and elusive nature that makes an interaction with a piece more special?
Does art belong exclusively in a gallery? Who does art belong to when the artist is not known?
Banksy continues to hold a mirror to the world of art and its consumers forcing us to consider these difficult questions and the possible contradictions of our nature.
But what happens when an artist doesn't care to be credited? Does ego overshadow genius in the world of art? What is lost or even gained through anonymity? Enter: Banksy the revolutionary name with no face.
Banksy is an anonymous street artist and activist. he is most well known for his street art featuring distinctive stencilling, text, and political or social commentary, Despite being a multi-media artist experimenting with installation, sculpture, and even film, Banksy often displays his art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls.
Banksy has been active since the early 1990s and continues to make art, but we will be highlighting his 2013 NYC residency entitled “Better Out Than In”.
During his residency, the elusive artist unveiled at least one work per day, documenting it on both a dedicated website and an Instagram account for authenticity. The commentary ranged from chiefly political to dark humor and satire.
Some commented on the culture of the city. Or it’s history like the October 15th piece which depicted the silhouette of former Twin Towers. An orange flower was placed where one of the planes struck the North Tower on September 11th, 2001.
His October 3rd piece entitled “You Complete Me” was accompanied with an audio recording made to mimic the museum experience. the audio stated at one point, "Are you looking at one of the great artworks of the 21st century? If so, you're in the wrong place."
The artist commented on the commodification of art and the arbitrary nature of art authentication with his October 13th installation. Banksy set up a stand just next to Central Park South with signed pieces of his spray art for sale. Only three people bought, and one negotiated a 50% discount.
Some of his works openly invited conversation, critique, and even dove into deep philosophical thought.
While others expressed the pressure and sometimes failure to create art.
During his NYC residency and throughout his career, Banksy continues to push the limits on what we consider art.
Is the value of art in the style or skill of an artist? Is it in its monetary value? Is it in its message? Does art have to have a message to be valuable? Is it in its permanence or can great art come and go?
He also harkens the question if an artist’s name adds value to a work of art, or is it his anonymity and elusive nature that makes an interaction with a piece more special?
Does art belong exclusively in a gallery? Who does art belong to when the artist is not known?
Banksy continues to hold a mirror to the world of art and its consumers forcing us to consider these difficult questions and the possible contradictions of our nature.
Reflection
For my podcast I used Garageband and iMovie. I have had some experience with iMovie in the past and felt comfortable with video editing, but sound editing was completely foreign to me. I was gifted a high quality microphone this previous holiday season as I have a podcast idea I'd like to launch in the future and this project encouraged me to break it out for the first time. It became overwhelming very quickly because of how foreign the program was to me. I'm glad I could include the script to this website as accessibility is important to me, but I wish I had time to add closed captions. I'm also grateful for being able to reflect as this process lets me know what I can improve upon and what I feel comfortable with.
My favorite part was script writing. I find it really interesting to write words meant to be spoken like a script. It was a completely different and somewhat simpler process than writing something meant to be read. It also felt a bit poetic.
Banksy is an artist I was previously familiar with but didn't know too much about the context of his work or who the artist himself is. I was compelled to focus on this artist because there is so little known about his personal life and it really brings into question how important the context of an artists life is when considering the value of their work; Banksy's work is an entity independent of its artist. I also really enjoyed exploring this artist's work because when the content begins to feel critical or overly serious it does a 180 and makes a joke of itself or the world it exists in. The unpredictable, satirical nature of his art keeps viewers on their toes.
My favorite part was script writing. I find it really interesting to write words meant to be spoken like a script. It was a completely different and somewhat simpler process than writing something meant to be read. It also felt a bit poetic.
Banksy is an artist I was previously familiar with but didn't know too much about the context of his work or who the artist himself is. I was compelled to focus on this artist because there is so little known about his personal life and it really brings into question how important the context of an artists life is when considering the value of their work; Banksy's work is an entity independent of its artist. I also really enjoyed exploring this artist's work because when the content begins to feel critical or overly serious it does a 180 and makes a joke of itself or the world it exists in. The unpredictable, satirical nature of his art keeps viewers on their toes.