Frequently on Artist Spotlight, I have chosen to cover lesser-known artists in an attempt to not only give their work the exposure it deserves but also demonstrate how these artists use specific techniques, cultural influences, and beliefs to motivate their expression. However, for this week’s column, I decided to take a different route.
The internet is a wonderful place in that you have a seemingly infinite library of knowledge at your disposal. This means that if you want to put a name to a face, you can almost certainly find the artist you’re looking for and recognize them as an individual rather than just a creator. Having a face as an artist is important for both notoriety and expression; artists are either celebrated or punished for their underlying message. I believe that it’s somewhat honorable to provide your identity as an artist, especially when the message you are communicating may provoke controversy. As you likely already guessed, the artist I will be discussing in this issue’s Artist Spotlight is the anonymous English graffiti artist referred to as Banksy. Although Banksy has gained a reputation, which can most likely be attributed to their unique urban paintings that typically contain veiled social commentary, I think that they are more commonly recognized for their anonymity. While I fully agree with the messages Banksy communicates through their pieces, I question their motivations for hiding their identity.
From one perspective, tagging walls in frequented public spaces is NOT legal and would be the purest motivation for Banksy to hide their identity, especially from authorities. In addition, there are times when Banksy has put themself in dangerous situations to create their murals. In 2022, Banksy confirmed making a trip to the war-torn country of Ukraine in solidarity with its people, whose cities had been ravaged by an unanticipated Russian invasion a few months prior. Banksy went to Ukraine at the height of its continuing conflict with its Russian neighbors, creating seven unique murals that perfectly illustrate the admirable determination of the Ukrainian people to preserve their homeland while also calling attention to the unfortunate reality they presently live through on a day-to-day basis. My favorite pieces from this collection are “Khiv, Kreshchatyk 9” and “Hostomel, Proskurivs’ka 2.” Both are creative uses of the warped urban landscape Ukraine has become as a result of its conflict with Russia. In “Khiv, Kreshchatyk 9,” Banksy spray painted two children on pieces of stone behind an anti-tank spike, making it seem as though they are using it as a seesaw. Banksy made similar use of an environmental factor in “Hostomel, Proskurivs’ka 2,” in which a lady in a gas mask and a bathrobe has extinguished a fire in her window. The burn mark from the fire is real remains from the urban warfare that the Ukrainian people have been subjected to. This mural is a unique allusion to the adaptability of the Ukrainian people and their call to arms in response to the Russian aggressors.
Even though Banksy’s anonymity may be important for their personal safety, there have been other artists who have remained in the public eye, regardless of the controversy surrounding their message. A good example would be Ai WeiWei, an artist living in China who commonly addresses the oppressive nature of the Chinese government through his work. Ai WeiWei’s most popular series was “A Study of Perspective,” in which he took pictures of himself giving the middle finger to different locations, which represent suppression of free speech or uncontrolled political power. Ai WeiWei’s pieces are almost always met with persecution by the Chinese government, leading to interrogations and even beatings. The importance of Ai WeiWei maintaining their personal identity as an artist is that while they are punished for their artistic expression, the world watches and hears their message clearly. This is why I believe that by shying away from the public eye, Banksy’s message remains shrouded, all while their artwork is immersed in material value.
It cannot be overstated how significant Banksy’s anonymity is to their identity as an artist. With no intention of downplaying the importance of their work, I would say that as a graffiti artist, Banksy shares far greater success than most because of their anonymous persona. As a direct result of their recognizability, Banksy is able to mass produce and commercialize prints of their art for a global audience while also selling original pieces at auctions for far greater sums. Unfortunately, this is where I begin to question Banksy motives. Are they mass-producing prints of their work to spread the messages of their pieces, or are they taking advantage of the material gain associated with the popularity of their persona? Conversely, is it the fault of the consumer for likely disregarding the greater meaning of Banksy’s original pieces in favor of a replica they can hang in their living room? I’ll leave that up to the reader to contemplate. Regardless, Banksy’s legacy continues, with more unique murals cropping up spontaneously all over the globe. Likely, one day, their true identity will be revealed. Until then, we can only keep guessing…
