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ISBN-10: 1-84413-787-2
ISBN-13: 9781844137879
Publisher: Random House, UK
Country:
Year: April 1, 2007
Size: 20.83 x 25.91 x 2.03cm
Number of pages: 192
Weight: 953gr
Binding: Paperback
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The collected works of Britains most wanted artist.
Artistic genius, political activist, painter and decorator, mythic legend or notorious graffiti artist? The work of Banksy is unmistakable (except maybe when its squatting in the New Yorks Metropolitan Museum or Museum of Modern Art.) Banksy is responsible for decorating the streets, walls, bridges and zoos of towns and cites throughout the world.
Witty and subversive, his stencils show monkeys with weapons of mass destruction, policeman with smiley faces, rats with drills and umbrellas. If you look hard enough youll find your own. His statements, incitements, ironies and epigrams are by turns intelligent and witty comments on everything from the monarchy and capitalism to the war in Iraq and farm animals.
His identity remains unknown, but his work is prolific. And now for the first time, hes putting together the best of his workold and newin a fully illustrated color volume.
Banksy, real name unknown, was born in Bristol, England.
reviews
When I was in NY I couldn't find the hard cover to bring back with me so I scoured Amazon.com. I ordered the hard cover … amazing … love the storyline. A++
Genuinely art. Though to be honest I like his installations in lakes, on surveillance cameras, and in museums best, this is graffiti art at its most direct, most political, and most inspiring. There is no doubt that this is genuinely serious art and this book can convince the skeptics. Hugely inspiring!
I'm a huge Banksy fan, and this was a great book to see his past work. The wry wit was so enjoyable, and it's a great coffee table book. There is some adult humour, so I wouldn't recommend it if you are offended by such things.
This is a GREAT coffee table book. Lots of great photos of his works presented well with great comments and anecdotes scattered throughout. Covers his work on public places (such as bridges, statues, landmarks) to his bold methods of putting his art up in plain view in public and in some pretty well known art museums. His art has great, thought provoking messages so it's so hard to not like this type of expression. It can run from hilarious to almost scary. I am going to take away a star because I find that while I like his art and his audacity to place it on an uncommon canvas and keeps it relevant to the everyday public, I find his messages tend to jump on the band wagon. He protests the war, corruption of the justice system, the greed and ambivalence of big business, etc. Not new territory to tread. While it brings these issues back into the minds of the reader or viewer, the messages aren't anything nouveau.
If you have a taste for subversive art that seeks to redress the dominant discourses of our times, then the work illustrated in this book will give a taste of an important player. 'Wall and Piece' documents Banksy's visual opinions on so many live issues in a manner that will leave you tossing in your bed. He claims that,'I'm going to speak my mind, so this won't take very long.' True. It's only a half hour flip through this generous picture book. But what you experience, as with any strong art, will linger much longer. Herein are his ripostes to 'the people who truly deface our neighborhoods … the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff'. Pithy texts underscore pithier photos … 'a lot of people never use their initiative because no one told them to'. His visual conundrums target those who hold the reins over piece, justice and freedom. So its a vast charter; from corporate capitalism through zoos, police, soldiery, governments,royalty, and to signeage itself. Be empowered; stencilling advice available on the last page. Interested in more on art? see>rodmoss.com
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