Wall and Piece by Banksy Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Wall and Piece
Book Review: He Didn't Paint in Vain--but in his own Vein's Vane...
Summary: 4 Stars
Well, I too say "every wall, a potential museum!" However, only with quality: "Write or draw anything you want, just so it's better than the blank page or bare wall." (A criterion whitsch few today will value, respect...) In these regard, I think that Bansky, is one who "has not lived in vein." (Like Garry Trudeau of Donesbury. Like Deb Tannen of books on human communication. Heck, like the very best graffiti artists world wide.)
What animates him? What perhaps-immature pulsion? (Propulsion; compulsion?) But "sublimation" is useful (foundation of civilization said Freud). His wild stallion sublimmitated to a workhorse of social utility? No matter, I'm just glad he did all this, and got it photographed also. An "indispensable small tessera in the big Mosaic of artistry" so to speek.
Is it social criticism, via satire? (Satire = the "mocking and ridiculing of human vices and follies.") But somebody said, for good satire you need high criteria, a worthy target, your own fiery outrage--but also a touch of like wit, whee, sprezzatura, elan, insuechiance, artistic tork, like that. Otherwise it's mere "complaining." I buy that and with Bansky do you get both slam and also suave? Seems-like.
Oh also, true "style," as somebody else defined as "attainment and restraint." (Again, a standard whitsch few today will even comprehend...) Like it sure does Get There, but then stops short of excess. True in morals, art¡ athletics! Does Banksky's subtle tones of wry, achieve this, elevate his work from mere splat-in-public-face? It can for me. Car karkass painted zebra-striped. Kid dangelling from a McDonalds balloon. Less mere dumb wham, than lite-touche whee.
His verbal explications do seem to reflect a facile rebelliousness, social criticism on steroids? His verbal is less than his visual thus? Maybe "just an excuse"? (Like when the big Gilbert & George retrospective came to the Milwaukee Public Museum, I was sardonically amused to hear the "docents" there stumbelling over them selves, trying to legitimize, justify, validate what I at least see as G. & G.'s facile self-pleasing experimental sneaky sensationalist careerism. (They mouth "art for all, liberation," etc.--but then draw trendie skatologie and etc.) True, at least a dozen valid artistries from the 500 pages of their retrospective book. How much of Bansky will remane indispensable after all?
Well, what are your Bansky faves? Oh my best is that slamming juxtaposition of Ronald McDonald, Mickie Mouse, but in the center, the nude crying girl running from the Mei Lie massacre. Other items have the acerbic byte also. But I do like the whimsie. That zebra car-cass--gentle touche. An ATM spewing out faik Princess Dy money, in a trump l'oeuil affect on the wall--a dance of sort's. So many other stencils of people on the wall. I can say: "Yes, an attempt was made, this peopelizes the urban terrain so, why not." Let other's do as well--in their own wais of koarse...
Some Banksy stuff is just suave. "Designated riot area"--that's rye! "Register before committing graffiti" on a subway car--that's an eye-wink! "Mind the crap" outside off a museum or pareil--thats a tork of the British "mind the step" meening "dont tripe on the stareway." And "Polite Line, Don¡¦t Get Cross"--thats less kornie nice-nice, than style-ish mockerie deservedly. In a painting of Monets, "lillie pond with bridge," shopping karts lie a skew half-submerged--thats the social criticism salved by the sauce of deft. Oh, and the sharks fins apparently floating in an urban park pond. Less intrusive via in-your-faice Social Crit or pareil, than just "wow look but then float easy I get it what is it." Also the traffik koans. First, artfully-reformed ones and thats saying "art anywhere and why not"(think Japanese minimal garnishes in the quotidian diurnal mundane...) Then, a koan on top of hedd of statute in the park, like a dunces cap. Again "Y knott." No, art does not always have to be like Matisse famous paragraph "an easy chair for tired businessman at end of day" like. But I like "subversive whimsy" as my own cartoons show (70-p. book). As in on a wall, stencil of a mouse-hole with two rats in tuxxeedoes gaitkeapers. And one says, "Well why not and cheers and whee and elan and have a happi day."¨
Diskloasure. Near the end of this (gasp) librarys kopi of the book, I (1) inscribed a cartoon-face "my-style" reacting to his statement, and (2) shall insert in that (shudder) publically-owed property, a kopi of this review befoar returning it. Oh how rong, immateur, and etc. However autem pero par contre--such extra-vagant reciprokaiting seems like the meta- or mimetic- right thing to do. To cooperate-salute (not to co-opt) indeed saltate with, this versive artist? He show's us that Yes We Kan can, and Right, Here-Now!
Book Review: Incredible
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a quick read of course, but the pictures and ideas in it will keep my mind running for a long time. Had to get it shipped from the UK since you'd be pressed to find it in the US surprisingly. Dunno why you can't find it anywhere here, especially since some his art has been in New York and in the US. Anyway, loved the book. It gave me a better look into why Banksy does what he does and I got a clearer idea of his messages. The tips in the back gave me some good ideas too.Book Review: Inspirational! Banksy is a REAL artist!
Summary: 5 Stars
My favorite quote from the book:
"Any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It's yours to take, re-arrange and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head."
Real art should be FREE! Free of conceit, free to let the viewer interpret, free of profit as a motivation and free to the public!
Thank you, Banksy, for keeping it free and real.
Book Review: Inspiring originality
Summary: 5 Stars
Unique genius. Underground art culture from a new perspective. Metaphorical- yet playful, stencil art. Banksy, is simply the best ever at this particular realm of artistry.Book Review: Like a how-to for stenciling
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is great. Page after page after page of stencils and stories. There are so many things to look at, it's well-organized, and includes a little something to read on almost every page. Some of the things in this book made me laugh, and other pages really made me think about the world I live in. I guess that's the point.
If you want to get into stencil painting, this book will open your eyes and give you lots to think about.