This is... Banksy

You say graffiti, I say gallery outside

Banksy is a smart man but he did go to art school.

Yes, this is a great film but what does this blog entry have to do with Green Chic? For me, it's how Banksy tells the story of commericalism and greed and how it has led to overprice goods and the lost meaning behind the art.

This film illustrates Banksy's view on street art. While it is common to accept street art as having a notoriety attached to it, which adds value to the art, Banksy uses this film to demonstrate that this should not be the case at all. Rather he makes a spectacle of the stupidity of those who are in it for the quick buck and the Americans who buy into the hype that gives street art the notority label. He uses Thierry Guetta aka Mister Brainwash as his example. Some may argue that "Banksy went off brand" by commercially publicizing the film but in my opinion he had to in order to get his message out there to the "wannabe" art buyers. This really was the only avenue he could use. Had he publicized the film via underground methods, his message would not have reached his targeted audience.

The film is funny, provocative and genius. Not only does it contain amazing footage from around the world, it also includes several shots of the work of local artists such as Rone, Ash Keating and Vexta.

While street art continues to spark debate on whether our common spaces are really 'public' and whether there is a difference between street art VS advertising, my advise is to see the film before choosing sides.

Exit through the gift shop - A Banksy film.
Now showing at ACMI til 21 June 2010 - click here for trailer

Official selection SUNDANCE film festival 2010
Official Competition, Berlin film festival