Banksy often uses his stenciling technique to show contempt for the government which considers graffiti to be vandalism and not art. Photo #1 by Banksy
The dreaded surveillance society. Banksy’s graffiti usually carries a message that is anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment. “Your mind is working at its best when you’re being paranoid. You explore every avenue and possibility of your situation at high speed with total clarity,” ~ quote by Banksy (Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall). Photo #2 by by nolifebeforecoffee♡
Pure Banksy: The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal. “Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #3 by Kevin Rawlings
Art work by Banksy, on the Thekla Social entertainment boat, central Bristol, England. The image of Death is supposedly based on a 19th century etching illustrating the pestilence of The Great Stink. Banksy Photo #4 by Adrian Pingstone
Wikipedia says Banksy supports the following movements: Anti-war, Anti-capitalism, Anti-fascism, Anti-imperialism, Anti-authoritarianism, Anarchism, and Existentialism. “I need someone to protect me from all the measures they take in order to protect me,” ~ quote by Banksy. Banksy Photo #5 by Chris Beckett
Banksy art displayed at “Barely Legal” gallery show in LA. “Think from outside the box, collapse the box and take a f***king knife to it,” ~ quote by Banksy. Banksy Photo #6 by Bit Boy
Banksy on Anonymous as was displayed at “Barely Legal” art show. “I don’t know why people are so keen to put the details of their private life in public. They forget that invisibility is a superpower,” ~ quote by Banksy. Banksy Photo #7 by Bit Boy
Banksy’s “self-harming hoodie” as seen at Cans Festival, Leake St. May Bank Holiday Weekend. “If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then you have to live a lie,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #8 by Leeky-Boy
Banksy on Guantanemo ~ “I like to think I have the guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no-one else believes in – like peace and justice and freedom.” Photo #9 by Banksy
Regarding Banksy’s graffiti, Wikipedia added, “the components of the human condition that his works commonly critique are greed, poverty, hypocrisy, boredom, despair, absurdity, and alienation.” Photo #10 by Banksy
“It’s a very frustrated feeling you get when the only people with good photos of you work are the police department,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #11 by jvoves
Banksy Hits San Francisco. “People who get up early in the morning cause war, death and famine,” ~ Banksy (Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall). Photo #12 by Banksy
“Art is not like other culture because its success is not made by its audience. The public fill concert halls and cinemas every day, we read novels by the millions, and buy records by the billions. ‘We the people’ affect the making and quality of most of our culture, but not our art,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #13 by eddiedangerous
“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #14 by Banksy
“Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for,” ~ quote by Banksy. Photo #15 by Banksy
“A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #16 by Banksy
“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages,” ~ Banksy. Photo #17 by Banksy
Ozone’s Angel: Banksy created this Angel with skull memoriam of Ozone who was hit by an underground train in Barking, East London. After Banksy painted this angel wearing a bullet-proof vest and holding a skull, he updated his website to say, “The last time I hit this spot I painted a crap picture of two men in banana costumes waving hand guns. A few weeks later a writer called Ozone completely dogged it and then wrote ‘If it’s better next time I’ll leave it’ in the bottom corner. When we lost Ozone we lost a fearless graffiti writer and as it turns out a pretty perceptive art critic. Ozone – rest in peace.” Banksy Photo #18 by Darren from London, England
“A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to,” ~ Banksy. Photo #19 by Banksy
Time reported on Banksy’s style: “What exactly that brand represents has never been entirely clear. Banksy is a paradox: he used his anonymity to court attention and became a commercial success by condemning consumer culture.” Banksy allegedly wrote in an an e-mail to the New Yorker magazine, “I originally set out to try and save the world, but now I’m not sure I like it enough.” Photo #20 by Banksy
“There are four basic human needs; food, sleep, sex and revenge,” ~ Banksy. Photo #21 by Banksy
“Once upon a time there was a bear and a bee who lived in a wood and were the best of friends. All summer long the bee collected nectar from morning to night while the bear lay on his back basking in the long grass. When winter came the bear realised he had nothing to eat and thought to himself ‘I hope that busy little bee will share some of his honey with me.’ But the bee was nowhere to be found – he had died of a stress induced coronary disease,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Banksy Photo #22 by kris beltran
“There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #23 by Stefan Kloo
“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they’re having a p*ss,” ~ Banksy (Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall). Photo #24 by Stefan Kloo
“If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Banksy Photo #25 by Ludovic Bertron
Looters by Banksy in New Orleans. According to Wikipeida, in 2008, to mark the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina “and the associated levee failure disaster, Banksy produced a series of works in New Orleans, Louisiana, mostly on buildings derelict since the disaster.” Banksy Photo #26 by Infrogmation of New Orleans
Steam roller warden. Reoccurring subjects in Banksy’s graffiti are rats, apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly. Photo #27 by Banksy
“Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place,” ~ quote by Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #28 by Banksy
Banksy seems to think ‘highly’ of politicians. Some people think very highly of Banksy and have paid huge amounts of money for his art. According to Wikipedia, an example of the Banksy effect: “In February 2007, the owners of a house with a Banksy mural on the side in Bristol decided to sell the house through Red Propeller art gallery after offers fell through because the prospective buyers wanted to remove the mural. It is listed as a mural that comes with a house attached.” Photo #29 by Banksy
“The human race is the most stupid and unfair kind of race. A lot of the runners don’t even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water. Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side. It’s not surprising a lot of people have given up compeating altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk and shout abuse. What the human race needs is a lot more streakers,” ~ Banksy (Cut It Out). Photo #30 by Banksy
“Some people represent authority without ever possessing any of their own,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #31 by Banksy
“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish. But that’s only if it’s done properly,” ~ Banksy. Photo #32 by Banksy
Death comes in all forms. “I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #33 by Stuart
Sperm alarm. Photo #34 by Banksy
Girl seized by an ATM, Rosebery Avenue, London, attributed to Banksy. Photo #35 by Bengt Oberger
“Remember crime against property is not real crime. People look at an oil painting and admire the use of brushstrokes to convey meaning. People look at a graffiti painting and admire the use of a drainpipe to gain access,” ~ Banksy. Photo #36 by Banksy
“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall – it’s wet,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #37 by Banksy
Kentucky fox. Banksy on ‘Brandalism’: “Any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It’s yours to take, rearrange and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head.” Photo #38 by Banksy
“We can’t do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves,” Banksy. Photo #39 by Banksy
“Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of gravity at the same time is ideal,” ~ Banksy (Wall and Piece). Photo #40 by Banksy
“I’d been painting rats for three years before someone said ‘that’s a clever anagram of art’ and I had to pretend I’d known that all along,” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #41 by LoopZilla
NYC phone box. Photo #42 by Banksy
“The Art we look at is made by only a select few. A small group create, promote, purchase, exhibit and decide the success of Art. Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say. When you go to an Art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires…” ~ Banksy. Banksy Photo #43 by ethur.org/home.asp
The Elephant in the Room from Banksy’s Barely Legal show. Banksy Photo #44 by Bit Boy
“A wall is a very big weapon. It’s one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with,” ~ Banksy (Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall). Banksy Photo #45 by Francis Orante
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes Posted by: Nuno Roberto Posted date: August 17, 2011 | No comment GD Star Ratingloading… 1 […]
While he is talented, he is still nothing more than any other graffiti criminal if he is doing this on others property without their permission. The fact that most of his vandalism is designed to ‘make people think’ really doesn’t matter. He needs to be punished in the same way other graffiti vandals are.
you, sir are a moron. how can you say this?
it is ok with ME!
I smell a troll.
What is your definition of “Freedom of Expression”? His ART should be protected by that constitutional right!
He has the right and the freedom to write whatever he wants on HIS property. It says so in the constitution.
o dont tell me that bullshit.
im sure you would love it if banksy wrote graffiti’d on your wall
and plus, this might be one of the only ways other than protesting to get messages heard by the government, or to
even let people know of what is happening to the world today.
you suck man and prolly just threatened…Banksy’s art is the BEST. Viva la revolution!
dumb ass
i agree with you, even though he is very talentwed STICK TO PAPAER
if he stuck to paper it would lose it’s meaning
To all the losers that are saying it’s wrong because it’s other people’s property, one nobody owns the earth, and two wrong is the only thing people pay attention to these days…
Who owns the graffiti on the side of my house? And if there is any financial gain to be made, who takes a cut?
Property is bullshit, a lot of property these days is gained by fraud and other forms of criminality.
He’s being an artist, saying it like it is, how is that a crime? No one complains about cave paintings! Artists make a fortune, like Lady GaGa, for being autotuned yet he gives inspiration raw and for free 😀
you really have missed the entire point of his work.
Art or no art… He’s still a criminal. Liking what he does doesn’t make it OK.
Actually, liking it DOES make it okay. That’s how new laws are formed.
Hahaha… it is only a crime because some ignorant cold people decided that it is. Would you rather he paid thousands of dollars to have his work “legally” displayed, and have the permission of the “authorities”? Please.. we do not need anybody’s permission to express ourselves whether we are “damaging” public property as we do it. The government has destroyed nearly every other beautiful aspect of life, and you agreeing with them, makes you just like them: ignorant and cold. Stop being so naive, and learn to appreciate the people who do not take anything from the world. Unlike most of the population who have learned to survive fully on people’s handouts and other people’s opinions and regulations. “Crimes are not committed by people who break the rules but by people following the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages” – BANKSY
Donald Trump did not ask my permission to put up one of his
self-ejaculating sepulchres called a building,
Banksy doesn’t need my permission to tag it;
rather, I encourage him to tag it, PLEASE!
😀
I dunno if he’s an Anarchist or a Truth teller – both quite dangerous to “society today”. – But I DO know who is likely to obliterate his art. Thanks for the viewing pleasure! V.Jarvis
Calling him a graffiti criminal is absurd. He is an amazing artist and activist. People buy his work as well as with some pieces city officials leave it up to the community whether or not they want it displayed.
He’s a genius. This is art, plain and simple. Historians will be horrified that these works were sandblasted and spray painted over. It’s way ahead of its time.
Banksy is a legend. Dont call him a vandal. He’s not one of your little hoodrats with a can of paint. Saying he needs to be punished for art is stupid. His art is original. That hidiously plain wall that adds nothing to society except a barrier, in my opinion life as we know it needs some cheering up.
I’d bet you wouldn’t say that if some original “artist” sprayed graffiti all over your house and windows and car.
If Banksy sprayed my house I’d be absolutely delighted. Banksy, come and paint my walls, I beg of you.
i’d be cool with it. if banksy tagged my car i could sell it for a million dollars.
Banksy : not a sanctimonious cliched postmodern platitude he doesn’t hit.
Historians will be horrified.
Banksy is one of the few people out there putting the sad state of world politics in the faces of everyone walking down the street because we all know the media isn’t giving you the whole truth. There is a difference between street artists and kids scribbling their names in black paint and there is a difference between Banksy and everyone else, to call him a criminal would be criminalizing alternative and progressive thought. I personally would rather walk down the street surrounded by beautiful murals with hundreds of stories and thousands of colors than blank grey and white walls with the occasional poorly matched squares covering said works of art.
To say he’s not a criminal means you don’t know the definition of “criminal”. Go look it up.
People who made sculptures during the Byzantium era were also criminals. Laws get broken, changed and forgotten -art evolves
Jesus Christ was executed as a criminal. His name lives on.
It seems none of you understand how government works and either does he. There really is no such thing as anarchism. Because as soon as “anarchism” is in place, SOMEONE will start to lead and bam! You have a government. Whether you like it or not, there is always going to be a government. So what would you rather have? Communism, dictatorship, or democracy. I for one prefer democracy.
And the fact that he’s doing all of his art illegally too. I mean yes his work is moving and I believe all artists should be able to express theyre opinion, but this is STILL illegal. Your defiling property. How would you like it if I drew something “moving” on your house? Based on MY opinions about life and government. I would absolutely have no problem with his work if he found another way to express his work to the everyday public. In fact I would applaud his efforts because that would be a real man at work.
Our species has not evolved enough for anarchy; Social Darwinism still rules.
I find that 99% of the population who drop words like “Democracy”, “Communism”, “Fascism”, “Socialism”, etc.; can rarely define those systems with any semblance of accuracy. To think this nation is a “democracy” shows how prevalent ignorance truly is.
rules were made to be broken. if you follow the exact definition of “criminal” than the american revolution was a crimespree since the americans broke the kings “laws.” You may think you’re right, but you’re only a monkey following rules put into place to make you dance like a chimp for 9 hours a day for paper to buy shit you don’t even need. it’s idiots like you who keep this system going strong.
[…] source: http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/08/banksy-graffiti-superhero-45-great-photos-quotes/SHARE: Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Buzz it up Share on […]
LOL @ people getting pissed off over opinions. My opinion is he’s a criminal, go ahead, get mad.
For now- yes, he is. In fifty years he will be admired- as picasso is today
Opinions are extremely vulgar, everyone in high class has the exact same opinion. Hmm… I wonder who is in high class here.. the people who admire beautiful art, or the people who have been brainwashed by the authorites 🙂 Yes.. everybody has opinions (unfortunately) but not everybody’s opinion is a correct one sweetie.
Amen. People tend to not understand that but amen.
Just love it. At first for visual effects and in second because he made people react
^fuckin trolls
[…] great article about Banksy. […]
[…] Via Banksy. […]
[…] lovethesepics […]
Bansky is teh bestest you guys are just jealous and poopie.
[…] LINK Love These Pics […]
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes […]
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping to offer one thing again and help others such as you aided me.
How do people who dislike Banksy and/or his work end up on a forum ABOUT him and his work? Hmmmm…You may “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Thank you.
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes […]
I know that I’m late to this, but I see a lot of arguing about how he should be or should not be punished. Some say his graffiti is an “acceptable” crime. I would agree with this, if graffiti was actually a crime.
Croatia is a paradise for many kinds of activities from extreme sports skiing, rafting, caving and scuba diving or if you prefer a calm, just relax, sunbathe, or
an inspiration..BANKSY rocks!!!!!!!!!..and F* you haters!get a life
f*** robbo.
[…] protecting the work of graffiti superhero Banksy […]
[…] at Dogwood Parade, Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo #8 by Frank Kehren Dragons protecting the work of graffiti superhero Banksy. Photo #9 by Cyndy Poon Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebration 2012. This dragon is on display at […]
I like haters, they’re more fun than the lovers.
Come now people. This is ridiculous. Because Banksy isn’t just about art, he is about politics. His works represent the “things that no one else believes in”. But thats the thing. He is so hypocritical! OF COURSE other people believe in these things. Banksy makes all us normal, law abiding people sound like robots with no opinion of our own – like we need guidance from a vandal. His form of artwork is an illusion. He fools us all into thinking that it is something new. In fact, his form of art, even the way he portrays it – none of it is new. Compare, say, Banksy to Leonardo Da Vinci. Now, THAT man was a genius, ahead of his time, inspiring. Think about it. Banksy is just a graffiti artist who applies politics to get his point across, just as Da Vinci was a painter who applied art to represent religion. I think that we need to get over Banksy. He isn’t as awesome as we make him sound,
The owners of those totally derelict buildings should actually PAY him for improving his property…Without his graffiti, all these buildings would be shit holes … at least they give you something to look at besides dank dirty walls in a dank dirty city!
LOL…are you insane? evidently spouting off like some moron who doesn’t understand the word “art” and rebellion, you obviously do need guidance. Considering the state of apathetic stupidity in the American Populace, anything that wakes them from the prozac induced stupor is worth the effort. He doesn’t get paid for this you dumbass…your country is littered with pointless “buy more shit” billboards and you bitch about original art graffiti? Get a grip … or a dunce cap. Either one will serve you well.
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes No related posts. […]
Gotta be honest. I stopped reading the argument awhile back. YES, it’s criminal. but that’s the point can’t you see? it’s the first thing noticed. it isn’t until after that the point sinks in. I personally have never seen anyone try to wake up the world and force them to take notice of their surrounding in such a proficient and yet dangerous way. keep in mine he may be the greatest artist of our time and yet he gives his best work away, often to find i washed away almost before it dries
banksy properly doesnt even look at these posts so why bother and i do argee with all of you , im studying graphical art a college and im doin banksy style work, there are two types of graffiti one is vandilism and the other is art , the difference is, is that art as a meaning or a purpose and that is way banksy does the work in places that dont like this sort of thing , thats the point , thats what gives it its meaning. banksy your works great but im not a suck up , im my own artist as such , and i back you up against some of these people.
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes […]
Banksy is a revolutionary scoundrel, an insightful criminal, a vociferous vandal, a recalcitrant anarchist, an artful genius with the guts to smash society in the face with a brick wall.
Genio!!!
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes […]
banksy is an old punk like me but he can put into picturs what most people strugle to put into words he should do more work in bristol i miss it.
[…] And then there’s the politics. Again, populist; Banksy is clearly never going out on a limb when he thumbs his nose at royalty, at corporations, at banks and government. That’s the sort of political satire that goes down easily. What makes it interesting is the mischief. He’s not just engaging in populist politics; he’s doing it in the face — often ON the face— of authority. […]
I’m doing a research paper om graffiti in my community, and none of it is like Bansky’s. His is ART, and his meaning to back it up. I would rather have his work in my neighborhood instead of gangbangers throwing up where their from, or taggers making unoriginal characters. Bansky, please visit Phoenix, AZ. We need a make over.
The Graffiti Artist and Street Vendor at its best!
[…] locks’ to the railings; the panels were tagged with graffiti. The love padlock area, like Banksy’s graffiti, is loved by some people who call it art and hated by others who call it vandalism. Photo #31 by […]
[…] Banksy Graffiti Superhero: 45 Great Photos & Quotes […]
I like Banksy’s art because it sends a message to everyone. So what if it’s illegal, it just shows that he cares. The questions is: ‘What isn’t fucked in this day and age?’ because, in all honesty, the government has done a swell job of fucking up everything they can get there grubby hands on. Some actual try and help but are silenced. So I think of Banksy as someone that serious about all the hate we surround ourselves in. He has the best street art that I’ve ever seen and I would it if he did come to Australia again and did more of his art.