Banksy and celebrity
Over on Chicken Yoghurt Justin highlights the pointlessness of Banksy’s latest work. Now, I have to say that I like some of the stuff that Banksy has done. The graffiti on the Israeli defence wall was particularly good in my view. Of course, not all of his work attains that high standard, and as Justin quite rightly says; the elephant in the room does seem particularly pointless… though from a purely aesthetic viewpoint there’s something quite groovy about it as an image (ethical issues about the use of animals as artistic “props” aside). But then again, elephants are always interesting to look at, so if you can afford to dump one into your art installation there’s a good chance it’ll be visually impressive however cack-handed the artist.
Also, was I the only one to notice a very subtle backfire of the Paris Hilton CD stunt? The prank seemed to be about highlighting the absurdity of Paris Hilton recording an album based purely on the fact that she’s “a celebrity”. In other words; “the fact that you have public name-recognition means you get to do what you want”.
It’s hardly an original point, but it was, in my opinion, an old point well-made by Banksy’s prank. Unfortunately though it was rather undercut by the reaction of HMV whose spokesman said:
It’s not the type of behaviour you’d want to see happening very often, [but] I guess you can give an individual such as Banksy a little bit of leeway for his own particular brand of artistic engagement.
In other words; “we’d be very cross about this if it was just some average schlepp who did it… but, well, Banksy’s a celeb isn’t he? So that’s alright then.”
I didn’t realise the story behind Banksy’s bit on Park Street in Bristol til I moved here. A vaugely similar situation. He painted the image of a woman inside a window, with her husband looking vainly for her lover, who’s hanging naked from the window ledge. Punchline: it’s on the side of the sexual health clinic. Anyway, apparently the council had a vote and the public overwhelmingly supported it staying. Of course, the announcement came along with a warning that this wasn’t “endorsing graffiti”, the rest of which is still very naughty and will be removed.
On this, I tend towards the idea that Banksy’s happy about having made the council sound like normal, stupid, compromised adults.
Interesting point about the Paris Hilton piece, but in the end, it’s more a point about the HMV guy, not (at least not wholly) about Banksy. And even then, I think the HMV guy would probably be well aware Banksy’s a celeb of sorts for good reasons – not just for being rich and being a tart. Obviously celebrity per se is questionable, but there are degrees of its inanity.
September 22nd, 2006 | 9:00pm
by Gyrus
Banksy’s work seems to personify the whole idea of “recuperation” in Situationism. Dead almost as soon as it began. Pretentious as fuck, really. I prefer Julian Beever’s chalk pavement drawings. Good honest street art.
September 23rd, 2006 | 3:09am
by Joel
Interesting point about the Paris Hilton piece, but in the end, it’s more a point about the HMV guy, not (at least not wholly) about Banksy. And even then, I think the HMV guy would probably be well aware Banksy’s a celeb of sorts for good reasons – not just for being rich and being a tart. Obviously celebrity per se is questionable, but there are degrees of its inanity.
I’m not so sure Gyrus. I very much doubt that HMV’s reaction included the assessment that Banksy is a celeb “for good reasons”. I’m pretty sure they’d have reacted very differently if it had been his first stunt… or if an equally talented, but completely unknown, artist had carried it out.
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Paris Hilton CD thing was bloody marvellous. I think it succeeded in its intent. But I also think it revealed the fact that Banksy himself can get away with things the rest of us can’t precisely because he too has become a celebrity. I don’t think that’s saying anything negative about the guy… in fact it reinforces his point somewhat… but it is a fact.
And I still think painting an elephant in order to illustrate the old saw about “the elephant in the room” is plain ridiculous. Apart from anything else, it doesn’t illustrate the point as – in the installation – the elephant is the only thing to talk about.
September 24th, 2006 | 10:28pm
by Jim
I’m a huge fan of Julian Beever myself, Joel. His Batman piece was the first I saw (in some magazine or other) and I instantly fell in love.
September 24th, 2006 | 10:30pm
by Jim
Very funny point about Banksy’s leeway in the HMV stunt – I’d not thought of that. As you say I don’t think it counts against him, because it’s not like he was depending on his celebrity to get away with it – I think his track record speaks for itself in not giving a fuck about the attitudes of those in authority.
September 27th, 2006 | 10:00am
by Larry Teabag