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Based on the title I cynically prepared to dissect this article for adhering to one of three common fallacies about interpretation: 1. All artwork speaks for it

by jmkd 6y ago

Based on the title I cynically prepared to dissect this article for adhering to one of three common fallacies about interpretation: 1. All artwork speaks for itself 2. A work of art has only one meaning 3. The artist determines the meaning of the art. But it does a reasonable job of avoiding these traps. The quote about artist David Hammons sums it up nicely "he is simply too private to talk about where his work comes from, that doing so would feel like a bodily violation.' Like many artists before and since he is indirectly saying that he doesn't know why or how his work is created, or what it really means, because if he did he would be a critic or curator, not an artist. He is putting artwork into the world, not anything else.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
Melting_Harps 6y ago
Isn't Banksy the epitome of this type of artist? His work is highly sought out because he is as elusive as a public artist can be, giving him an allure and a sense of mystique. Whereas his predecessors were often starving artists, who often fall victim to alcohol/drug abuse, whose work is seldom appreciated until they die. Lest they 'made it' and were ordained by Church or State, that is. I'd say beyond just artistic freedom, it also seems to give them a monetary incentive to operate this way. I don't know enough about the Art World to comment on the works themselves, but given the amount of talent seen on just deviant art since its inception, I hope most follow this model and we can see more artists get recognized for their work. This does remind me of a series I saw that was quite moving on the BBC that I wish they'd reboot on modern artists, its called the Power of Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QwQ2kUQDnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QwQ2kUQDnY Sidenote: That's my favorite episode (Jacques-Louis David) of the series, and its worth the entire watch: but @41:14 onward it shows what Art and Artists is often reduced to when control rests in the hands of the aforementioned 'dignitaries.'
- lowdose 6y ago
  Banksy took Warhol to a new level, who did the same with Picasso before.
- op03 6y ago
  I have no clue what is interesting about Banksy and know people who buy his crap who have no idea either. It's become a social status thing. If disappearing and being elusive is the criterion I pick Bill Waterson.
  - nicoburns 6y ago
    If they're buying Banksy's work, then they've missed the point. It's supposed to be public and seditious. Whether you think it deserves the level of fame it has is a matter of opinion, but there's definitely something to be said for putting witty political messages in prominent public spaces.
  - lioeters 6y ago
    I enjoyed reading about his withdrawal from public/celebrity life. His actions and works speak for themselves, and I imagine his choice to be "elusive" says a lot about his experience in the industry, how society treats its artists and artworks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#After_Calvin_and_Hobbes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#After_Calvin_an...
  - coldtea 6y ago
    >I have no clue what is interesting about Banksy and know people who buy his crap who have no idea either. For one, it's distinctive and iconic. Second, in 2020, it still has an element of social commentary, whereas most "modern art" is abstract BS. Third, it's not academic wordy social commentary (like some other art aspires to), but something plain folks can appreciate. So, lots to like.
    - itronitron 6y ago
      "every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blek_le_Rat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blek_le_Rat
- cocktailpeanuts 6y ago
  Banksy has to operate that way because otherwise he will be in jail and be fined all the time. City governments around the world don't really appreciate graffiti everywhere. Also he's more of an unusual case because of his fluent use of the social media combined with the anonymity. Without social media he wouldn't be as influential as he is today. Also he probably didn't start out thinking "Alright I'm gonna become an artist and make tons of money with my art!", he probably started doing it for his own personal pleasure, and it just took off. If someone were to start out with the goal of making money as artist, a graffiti artist would be the last on his mind. He was probably either financially independent already, or had a real job and was doing graffiti as a "side project" when he started out.
  - Melting_Harps 6y ago
    > Also he probably didn't start out thinking "Alright I'm gonna become an artist and make tons of money with my art!", he probably started doing it for his own personal pleasure, and it just took off. If someone were to start out with the goal of making money as artist, a graffiti artist would be the last on his mind. He was probably either financially independent already, or had a real job and was doing graffiti as a "side project" when he started out. You say that, but Ludo is a well known artist who took to street art to enhance his profile and has had large commissions in public places, magazines and concerts and live events. http://thisisludo.com/category/news/ http://thisisludo.com/category/news/ I don't think Banksy's model is the only way, but it has worked well for him given his approach for social critiques and the mystique is just his form of branding to create exclusivity to his work(s). He even admits to Blek Le Rat's work being comprable, if not better, to his own in the quote above.
amelius 6y ago
> All artwork speaks for itself Well, sometimes. At other times it is just a snack. https://globalnews.ca/news/6269261/banana-art-taped-to-wall-eaten/ https://globalnews.ca/news/6269261/banana-art-taped-to-wall-...

by jmkd 6y ago

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

Melting_Harps 6y ago

Isn't Banksy the epitome of this type of artist? His work is highly sought out because he is as elusive as a public artist can be, giving him an allure and a sense of mystique. Whereas his predecessors were often starving artists, who often fall victim to alcohol/drug abuse, whose work is seldom appreciated until they die. Lest they 'made it' and were ordained by Church or State, that is. I'd say beyond just artistic freedom, it also seems to give them a monetary incentive to operate this way. I don't know enough about the Art World to comment on the works themselves, but given the amount of talent seen on just deviant art since its inception, I hope most follow this model and we can see more artists get recognized for their work. This does remind me of a series I saw that was quite moving on the BBC that I wish they'd reboot on modern artists, its called the Power of Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QwQ2kUQDnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QwQ2kUQDnY Sidenote: That's my favorite episode (Jacques-Louis David) of the series, and its worth the entire watch: but @41:14 onward it shows what Art and Artists is often reduced to when control rests in the hands of the aforementioned 'dignitaries.'

lowdose 6y ago
Banksy took Warhol to a new level, who did the same with Picasso before.
op03 6y ago
I have no clue what is interesting about Banksy and know people who buy his crap who have no idea either. It's become a social status thing. If disappearing and being elusive is the criterion I pick Bill Waterson.
- nicoburns 6y ago
  If they're buying Banksy's work, then they've missed the point. It's supposed to be public and seditious. Whether you think it deserves the level of fame it has is a matter of opinion, but there's definitely something to be said for putting witty political messages in prominent public spaces.
- lioeters 6y ago
  I enjoyed reading about his withdrawal from public/celebrity life. His actions and works speak for themselves, and I imagine his choice to be "elusive" says a lot about his experience in the industry, how society treats its artists and artworks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#After_Calvin_and_Hobbes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson#After_Calvin_an...
- coldtea 6y ago
  >I have no clue what is interesting about Banksy and know people who buy his crap who have no idea either. For one, it's distinctive and iconic. Second, in 2020, it still has an element of social commentary, whereas most "modern art" is abstract BS. Third, it's not academic wordy social commentary (like some other art aspires to), but something plain folks can appreciate. So, lots to like.
  - itronitron 6y ago
    "every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blek_le_Rat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blek_le_Rat
cocktailpeanuts 6y ago
Banksy has to operate that way because otherwise he will be in jail and be fined all the time. City governments around the world don't really appreciate graffiti everywhere. Also he's more of an unusual case because of his fluent use of the social media combined with the anonymity. Without social media he wouldn't be as influential as he is today. Also he probably didn't start out thinking "Alright I'm gonna become an artist and make tons of money with my art!", he probably started doing it for his own personal pleasure, and it just took off. If someone were to start out with the goal of making money as artist, a graffiti artist would be the last on his mind. He was probably either financially independent already, or had a real job and was doing graffiti as a "side project" when he started out.
- Melting_Harps 6y ago
  > Also he probably didn't start out thinking "Alright I'm gonna become an artist and make tons of money with my art!", he probably started doing it for his own personal pleasure, and it just took off. If someone were to start out with the goal of making money as artist, a graffiti artist would be the last on his mind. He was probably either financially independent already, or had a real job and was doing graffiti as a "side project" when he started out. You say that, but Ludo is a well known artist who took to street art to enhance his profile and has had large commissions in public places, magazines and concerts and live events. http://thisisludo.com/category/news/ http://thisisludo.com/category/news/ I don't think Banksy's model is the only way, but it has worked well for him given his approach for social critiques and the mystique is just his form of branding to create exclusivity to his work(s). He even admits to Blek Le Rat's work being comprable, if not better, to his own in the quote above.

amelius 6y ago

> All artwork speaks for itself Well, sometimes. At other times it is just a snack. https://globalnews.ca/news/6269261/banana-art-taped-to-wall-eaten/ https://globalnews.ca/news/6269261/banana-art-taped-to-wall-...