I love street art. I love that I’m moving to a city that values street art. And I kinda love Banksy.
Theirry Guetta loved street art, too, and he set off to film some of the world’s most famous (and elusive) artists. Only his film was kind of crap and Banksy, who really wanted the world to get a glimpse of this unique art movement, took over the film and told Thierry to go home. Make some art.
Which is exactly what he did. Thierry had spent the better part of a decade learning the art of street art, not just the creation and display, but also how to get oneself noticed as an artist. Within months, and almost entirely through self-promotion rather than actual artistic creation, Thierry Guetta (aka, Mr. Brainwash) was the rising star of the street art world. Thousands lined up to see his exhibition debut, and in less than a week collectors would purchase nearly $1 million worth of Mr. Brainwash’ art.
The debate over “What is art?” will be an eternal one. I think “good” art is anything that people can find a connection with, be it emotional, spiritual or intellectual. I think there will always be a great variety of art simply because there will always be great variety in people’s love and interest. Art enthusiasts love the works of Mr. Brainwash. Does it change the art in some way to know that he commissioned other artists to do much of the creating?
Shepard Fairey explains his iconic image OBEY as an “inside joke” without much inherent meaning. “The more stickers that are out there, the more important it seems. The more people want to know what it is, the more they ask each other. And it gains real power from perceived power.” I like that. By the end of the film, the street artists all seem to be a little resentful of Thierry. Street art is subversive, illegal, fleeting, and above all, free for public consumption. Thierry became a part of the street artists’ world to tell their story, and taking what he learned at the feet of the masters, he would mass-produce and commoditize it.
“I don’t know what it means – Thierry’s huge success and arrival in the art world.
I mean, maybe Thierry was a genius all along.
Maybe he got a bit lucky.
Maybe it means art is a bit of a joke.”
- Banksy
Exit Through the Gift Shop on Netflix
