BANKSY: GENIUS OR VANDAL?
An Unauthorized Secret Show coming to NYC
Banksy: Genius or Vandal is a renowned exhibition that has been traveling the world, one city at a time, dedicated to one of the most exciting and mysterious living artists. The show is coming to New York City in August and, due to its immense popularity, the first month is already sold out.
Whether the world of street art interests you or not, you probably have heard the name, Banksy. The anonymous street artist and political activist will, without a doubt, go down in history as one of the most famous artists of the 21st century, all while keeping his identity a secret. The general fascination with Banksy goes far beyond the quality of his work or his status in the art world, as it is the controversy of his practice and activism attracting the attention of the whole world. It is always major news when Banksy’s creations appear in a specific city. Several documentaries have been made about his work, the people who surround him, and the mystery of who he is and how he became so famous while remaining completely anonymous.
Though little is known about his true identity, we know that he was born in Bristol, England, where he began his practice in the 1990s, and where a lot of his work can still be seen. His satirical art on public spaces typically involves dark humor and evokes social commentary, using a distinctive stenciling technique. Although it is frequently removed from its original location and resold by others, he rarely sells his work. The only time he sells his paintings is through his agency, Pest Control. Banksy also debuted as a filmmaker with his 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop. It earned him a 2011 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
Banksy: Genius or Vandal arrives in New York City after achieving success in 15 cities worldwide. The unauthorized exhibit “lets visitors dive into the controversial artistic universe of the most influential creator of present time and features more than 100 genuine, authenticated artworks by Banksy from private European collections.” It includes the most extensive collection anywhere by Banksy and photos and videos showing works in their original settings, which have since been removed from the streets.
Like Banksy himself, any exhibition showcasing his work is never free of controversy. The artist remains anonymous and continues to challenge the system and capitalism within the art world, so any display of his is unauthorized (one of his most recent and most brilliant stunts took place in 2018 when he installed a shredding device in the frame of one of his paintings which were being put up for auction. As soon as the painting was sold (for a whopping $1.4 million), it shredded itself. The exhibition will be at a secret location in New York City, and opens in August. Banksy: Genius or Vandal offers the opportunity to immerse oneself into the unique, mysterious universe of Banksy’s career. If you, like so many, are fascinated by his practice, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
