Artist Reflection on Banksy
Artist Reflection #2 Sheri K. Huhn Piedmont College – 630 Ellett Summer 2013
[pic]
|Banksy’s controversial works are not titled, not dated, and could be quickly missed if the authorities get them painted over too | |
|soon. In one of many politically charged artworks of Banksy’s, I chose to discuss the one below. In this image, there are two | |
|well-armed soldiers, one is crouching with his tactical weapon at the ready, and the other soldier is using a paintbrush and a can | |
|of red paint quickly painting a peace sign on a cement wall. Banksy appears to have used red spray paint for drawing the viewer in,| |
|and black spray paint with stenciling to create depth and shadowing in the work. There is emphasis placed on the red peace sign as| |
|it is central to the painting and the crouching soldier and the leaning soldier create a triangular unity to the piece. The lines | |
|of the symbol seem to almost aim at each man as well as the one line down the middle to bring the eye down to the paint can. | |
|Banksy’s use of “graffiti” materials, spray paint and a public wall defines his way of thumbing his nose at government, politics, | |
|and the world in general. I would argue that “graffiti” or street art is a cause of disagreement among the public. As I see it, | |
|many graffiti artists are talented and clever, but so many are considered mere “gang taggers”. The Urban Dictionary coins a tagger | |
|as “a mostly derogatory term for an inexperienced graffiti writer; or used as a general term for all graffiti vandals or writers by | |
|law enforcement….” (www.urbandictionary.com) My opinion about the graffiti found on street signs in my neighborhood is just that. | |
|It serves as nothing more than a way for gang members to mark their territory like dogs. It has no finesse, no artistic skill, just | |
|symbols meant for intimidation for their enemies
[pic]
|Banksy’s controversial works are not titled, not dated, and could be quickly missed if the authorities get them painted over too | |
|soon. In one of many politically charged artworks of Banksy’s, I chose to discuss the one below. In this image, there are two | |
|well-armed soldiers, one is crouching with his tactical weapon at the ready, and the other soldier is using a paintbrush and a can | |
|of red paint quickly painting a peace sign on a cement wall. Banksy appears to have used red spray paint for drawing the viewer in,| |
|and black spray paint with stenciling to create depth and shadowing in the work. There is emphasis placed on the red peace sign as| |
|it is central to the painting and the crouching soldier and the leaning soldier create a triangular unity to the piece. The lines | |
|of the symbol seem to almost aim at each man as well as the one line down the middle to bring the eye down to the paint can. | |
|Banksy’s use of “graffiti” materials, spray paint and a public wall defines his way of thumbing his nose at government, politics, | |
|and the world in general. I would argue that “graffiti” or street art is a cause of disagreement among the public. As I see it, | |
|many graffiti artists are talented and clever, but so many are considered mere “gang taggers”. The Urban Dictionary coins a tagger | |
|as “a mostly derogatory term for an inexperienced graffiti writer; or used as a general term for all graffiti vandals or writers by | |
|law enforcement….” (www.urbandictionary.com) My opinion about the graffiti found on street signs in my neighborhood is just that. | |
|It serves as nothing more than a way for gang members to mark their territory like dogs. It has no finesse, no artistic skill, just | |
|symbols meant for intimidation for their enemies