Wall and Piece, Banksy

The book I chose to review is Wall and Piece by Banksy.  There are a number of photographers that are featured in this book documenting the artwork of graffiti artist "Banksy."  The main photographer is Steve Lazarides who has managed to capture the underground world of street art.  The book tells us about the work of a man whose identity is unknown, but his artwork is prolific.  Banksy's art is found on walls all over the world, mainly in the UK, but is also found in Berlin, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, Palestine, Vienna, and Bethlehem.  Banksy uses elaborate stencils to put his art on walls more quickly and efficiently.  In the book he says he came up with the idea after running from the police and hiding under a truck for hours.  As he lay under the truck he realized that if he wanted to be successful, then he would need to cut the time it took him to paint his art in half.  This is when he saw the stenciled VIN number on the bottom of the truck.  This is when he realized he could use the same idea in his line of work.  This breakthrough is what has made him the most elusive graffiti artist in the world.  

The book shows all of the artwork Banksy has done up until 2007.  Since what Banksy does is technically illegal his art does not stay up very long, which is why he has a photographer with him to document.  When the UK government polled the public as to whether or not they should keep Banksy's work on the walls or not, there was an overwhelming amount of people that wanted the work to stay so now his art is kept on walls in England instead of removed which was the previous option.  

Banksy's art deals with a number of political and social themes, including anti-war, anti-capitalism, anarchism, nihilism, anti-authority and existentialism.  His work ranges from paintings, to drawings and stencil graffiti.  He has actually snuck his own paintings into Art Museums like the Tate Gallery in London and the Brookyn Museum.  Some of his art was taken down immediately and others stayed up for weeks because no one notices.  

Banksy remains anonymous because he says that the art is important not the artist.  Too many people are concerned with the artist and not the art, so his reason for remaining anonymous is partly because his "job" is illegal and also he wants the art to belong to the people and the street not to the artist.  Overall this book is very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone interested in art.