Banksy’s games

The famous street artist Banksy has transferred more than four million rubles to help the Russian art group Voina.

The money was raised by selling a limited circulation of Banksy prints titled Choose Your Weapon, according to the artist’s site www.picturesonwalls.com. The members of Voina were detained on November 15 for their action Palace Revolution, during which the artists overthrew police cars. They were indicted on hooliganism under Article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. The artist’s site carries a notice, “Each print is 450 pounds. Maybe the purchasers will be consoled by the fact that Banksy is donating the royalties to the Russian art group Voina, whose two members are now residing in a St. Petersburg jail.”

One can see the Anglo-American movie Exit Through the Gift Shop to get an idea of who Banksy actually is.

The film, directed by the artist himself, is about street art. As a matter of fact, Banksy, who probably resides in the British Bristol, is the world’s most famous street artist. His perfectly executed graffitis are extraordinarily expressive, intense, and provocative. Each new wall painting becomes a sensation. Collectors even purchase fragments of walls with Banksy drawings. Just a copy of an original work with the author’s signature costs a pretty penny — but despite this, Banksy remains incognito. Likewise, he appears in the movie as just a talking head in a hood, and his voice is muffled.

At first the story resembles a screen tour of the world of street art. Besides Banksy proper, we can see other well-known street artists. The plot is built around the initiator of the film, an eccentric French movie amateur and a fan of street art, Thierry Guetta. Guetta records Banksy’s risky actions and he himself takes part in them. However, another plot line starts to develop: first Guetta starts to post his own photographs out in the streets, while Banksy attempts to finish the film. As a result Guetta, with his connections in the art world, opens an exhibit of his imitative works in Los Angeles, and enjoys a crazy, yet totally undeserved, success.

There is no doubt that it is Banksy and not Guetta who authored the film. Thus he opened a new facet to his talent and appeared as a gifted filmmaker. His debut in directing has become a caustic, subtle satire of the world of contemporary art, and not just street art. Indeed, there is a gift shop near the exit of any gallery or museum; any most uncompromising position in the world of art results in an auction, and those who can please the public and sell themselves well, are no less prosperous than the biggest talents. This film, outwardly merry, leaves a bitter aftertaste.

On the whole, both Exit Through the Gift Shop and the action to support Voina, are the constituent parts of Banksy’s game with society. The game is all the more striking that the player is unusually sincere.