Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
The Art of Banksy
Hunua Rooms, Aotea Centre
Until 3 Aug.
Reviewed by John Daly-Peoples
The Art of Banksy, is a major exhibition of the artist’s work which has now been seen by 1.5 million visitors in 18 cities around the world.
The collection of 150 original and authenticated works features more than 150 pieces, including prints, canvases, unique works, and ephemera.
There are several versions of his well-known pieces such as the “Girl with a balloon” and “Flower Thrower,” also known as “Love is in the Air,”
As with many of his works Banky borrows from other sources, changing the original intention, subverting the original meaning as well as trawling the world for the symbols and highlights in other artworks.
So, there are references, adaptations and reworkings of Christian iconography, news photographs, Disney images along with the work of Andy Warhol, Keith Harring and even Degas.
It is the clever borrowing of images which appeals to adult audiences as well as well as children and his images which undermine capitalism will bring a smile to both to the conservative as well as the revolutionary.
The exhibition spans his output from the 1990’s to the present-day showing examples of his satirical and subversive output often appearing in public places around the world.
His iconic artwork depicting a masked figure or rioter, about to throw a bunch of flowers is taken for a newspaper image of a rioter throwing a projectile. This substitution is an obvious message advocating for love and peace over conflict and war.
There are other works like “Trolley Hunters” that satirize consumerism by depicting cavemen hunting shopping trolleys instead of wild animals. As well as being a clever juxtaposition of elements it is also a commentary on how modern society has become overly reliant on mass-produced goods and detached from nature.
Some of his work has more immediacy such as the several works related to his Walledoff Hotel in Bethlehem including some hand painted souvenirs. There are also images of his “Dismaland”, his take on Disney World ,creating a dystopian “bemusement park” located at the Tropicana in Weston-Super-Mare in 2015.
The exhibition also helps expand our understanding of the artist with numerous quotes by the artist about his history and approach to his work along with commentary by some of his collaboratives.
While here are many of his famous work there are also some of his original pencil sketches for the finished works
The works in the exhibition show that Banksy can be viewed from various perspectives – a cartoonist, a comic, a satirist, an agent provocateur or an advertising guru,
New Zealand Arts Review 