今回は、Banksyのgraffiti について書いてみました。
The power of arts - graffiti
Banksy: Who is Banksy? What we know about the anonymous graffiti artist - BBC Newsround
According to the article above, Banksy is a famous - but anonymous - British graffiti artist. He keeps his identity a secret. Although a lot of his art is produced in public places, he usually only reveals it's his after it has appeared on his social media. In the beginning his pieces were mainly in Bristol, but in the 2000s his artworks started appearing all over the UK and other parts of the world.
What motivated him to paint his work as a graffiti style? Why has he stayed anonymous although his artwork sells well and at a high price?
Banksy's work is known for delivering political messages. For example, he often showed up in the places where lots of conflict occurred and sent his message through graffiti.
In my opinion, although graffiti is illegal, it helps to stimulate the public, encouraging people to pay attention to the world around them rather than disconnect with their community. Graffiti usually is anonymous, in turn, it can become a tool for free speech and protest. Because of its anonymity, artists can express their opinions freely. This is important especially in the countries where public opinions are rarely heard and suppressed. In the countries like this, graffiti or street arts are one of the limited ways to express their opinions and send messages to the rulers and the community. Although they cannot solve problems, at least, their voices can be heard.
Art is a powerful tool of expression. Not only graffiti but also music and poems also influence our society and change along with it. Therefore, we can say that art including graffiti in a way mirrors the society we live in. If people see graffiti one hundred years from now, they can imagine what the society was like 100 years ago.
In conclusion, graffiti is a controversial art form that expresses a public voice. I am sure graffiti will continue to convey unheard messages around the world for centuries to come.
Who is Banksy?