Artist + Self

"No Future", Banksy 12.11.2010

 

    Banksy is an anonymous graffiti artist best known for his provocative political pieces displayed in public settings around the world.  He often plots his pieces in secret and creates them in locations where all can see, forgoing the tradition art gallery glass or a website pay wall. His art work often criticizes the hypocrisy of society, of it's greed and violent misuse of power. His pieces are often considered social commentary as they focus on real problems faced by struggling people. 

    Banksy inspires me as an artist because I feel that he is is unafraid to depict the harsher reality many of us choose to overlook. Banksy's art is more or less a reflection of us, an introspective of society and it's hypocrisy. His pieces are pact with raw human emotion and symbolic imagery. We can relate to the muses in the work because most look like they can be our our brothers, sisters, parents, friends, etc. His pieces are ephemeral, never meant to be auctioned off or permanent. I believe it is these quick glimpses of ourselves that inspire many to seek change before their own time runs out. I strive to be as much as an activist as he is and I hope that I can do so through my artwork.