A number of people keep dropping these photos of what looks like Banksy art into our Flickr pool. Banksy is a super famous street artist who has been able to hide his (or her… or their) identity for many years while working to change the way people see art. I used to think Banksy was just another “street artist” jerking his own ego off on the walls—but then I saw what he did at the Bristol Museum and realized this person/s is really turning the art world upside down.
Banksy’s been working across America this summer to promote the film Exit Through the Gift Shop, so it’s possible his/her/its work in Portland is the real deal. However, some of these local pieces have already been seen in other places like New Orleans and the West Bank, so it could just be a nicely done imitation.
What do you think? Do we have real game-changing Banksy art here in Portland, or is it simply a copy cat?
Hat tip to Squid Vicious from our Flickr pool.
Yeah, it’s that damn Banksy all right.
He painted a landscape-as-seen-through-a-faux-hole in the wood fence that separates me from my neighbor. My dog ran into it.
[shaking fist] “BANK-SYYYYY!”
For no reason that I can rationally explain, my initial response is to be extremely skeptical.
MM hmm….
http://xmitter.cc/2010/07/banksy-elephant-…
It could easily be Banksy or an imitator. Given the consistency of the themes and delivery, coupled with the anonymity of Banksy himself, it seems to make little difference. I would like to see multiple “Banksys” in many different cities, stirring up art crime trouble. It’s fun!
Not unless Banksy’s taking meds to take the edge off. This is pure fluff compared to Banksy.
After a good night sweat last night I think someone bought a Banksy graffiti starter kit off eBay. It’s just not new stuff and no where near as awesome as what he did in San Francisco.
aren’t we all Banksy?
Pranksy?
my guess is it is tied to Banksy, but odds are it wasn’t done by his hand. He is in the position to be able to send out others to do his dirty work these days. Plus I could see the film studio (secretly) being behind this, much like the ATHF Moonites a few years back.
Lacking site specificity and (insert other many red flags here) = dubious. Although, plagiarizing an plagiarist is pretty f’n awesome at any rate!
Banksy Rules!
Is Banksy in Portland? Interesting question. A better question would be… howfastcanyouallgethisdickinyourmouth?
What you have there is what is known in the graff world as good ol’ fashioned “biting”.
So, you are all missing the effing point. Banksy not Banksy. It’s art and its getting publicity. Who cares who did it. If there is a nationwide movement of people who are secretly beautifying our world and asking questions noone else is how can that be other than wonderful?
Banksy would have placed the guitar player on the street, not floating in mid air.
If it’s not bansky, is it still art? Before you say “yes,” examine your credentials.
I was blown away by the monkey. I took this in Manchester years ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vulgarcrimina…
Fantom’s right! It doesn’t matter who the artist arting all over town is, it only matters that someone arted the art in the first place. Someday it will rain on little girls and monkeys will rule the world and we will all be better prepared because someone, maybe Banksy, arted a warning for our benefit. It’s like the bumper sticker says, Art Saves Lives!
Banksy’s work is like an urban crop circle. When it mysteriously appears, it doesn’t really matter who made it.
Open your eyes these have been popping up for at least five years.
I assume at this point that Banksy rarely if ever actually gets his hands dirty. I don’t doubt those exist because of Banksy, but I would guess at this point he has someone doing the actual spraying.
I read an interview with someone purporting to speak on behalf of Banksy who said Banksy always asks permission. It was on the internet, so it must be true. . .
I’m with ll the folks who say, Banksy or not, it’s art and it’s getting press and maybe more people will follow suit.
Have you seen this woman lurking around?
http://www.theonion.com/articles/area-gran…
Banksy has been bombing every city his film has played in. All of this artwork appeared around the time his film was playing in Portland.
While done in the style, Bansky often announces his/her/their presence with a LARGE statement, often encompassing the entire wall of a multi-story building. Until I see that I will continue to believe copycat(but a good one).
To me- Banksy is a modern day Duchamp and I would love nothing more than to believe he graced our great city with his presence… so that is what i’m choosing to believe. I just made the rounds to his work in SF- and it gives me butterflies to see his work in public- doused in bum’s urine or not.
Derivative … http://www.rdlrblog.com/archives/359
This is all my work.
what lengths would a vegan bakery go to to sell a shitty 3 dollar gf muffin. fake banksy? i don’t know, but it seems plausible.
Banksy was on the west coast two months ago doing worl in LA and SF for his movie.
Banksy couldn’t be this boring if he tried. It’s a shame that most of what we see in this world is only art-like things.