Anonymous England-based street artist Banksy is notable for his stencil-style artwork with dark humour that criticises social issues, politics, wars, capitalism and consumerism while promoting freedom of expression. Although Banksy's true identity remains mysterious, his images with powerful messages through murals and other art forms have captured global attention.
Art enthusiasts in Thailand will be delighted to see Banksy's work at the exhibition "The Art Of Banksy: Without Limits", at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Bangkok. The exhibition is a collaboration between King Power, MOCA Bangkok and Plan B Media. It features 150 pieces in printmaking, photos, sculptures, digital art, video art and mural art. Thirty-two works from the total 150-piece display at the exhibition are certified as Banksy originals acquired from collectors. The rest are reproduced.
Although "The Art Of Banksy: Without Limits" has been exhibited in 18 cities such as Istanbul, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, Seoul and Mexico City, Banksy's official website, banksy.co.uk says none were consensual, meaning the exhibitions were unauthorised.
Kit Bencharongkul, director of MOCA Bangkok, explained that before they decided to bring the show to Thailand, the museum tried to contact Banksy via all possible channels, but received no response.
"Several years ago, I viewed this exhibition abroad and found it to be a rare opportunity because the artwork presented Banksy's ideas in one place. The exhibition focused on messages that Banksy wanted to communicate with people. As a museum, getting consent from artists to exhibit their work is important. However, after we tried to contact Banksy and got no response, we weighed the pros and cons. We believe viewers stand to gain a lot from the exhibition," Kit explained.
Life spoke with Kit about highlights of the exhibition and Banksy.
How does Banksy stand out from other street artists?
Banksy is rebellious in his methods of expression. He is a talented artist who can create simple pieces with powerful messages that raise questions, inspire people or trigger changes in society. The art pieces are also full of aesthetics, tranquillity and humour blended together. With his anonymity, Banksy's artworks leave viewers with unanswered questions.
Are there any pros and cons of being an anonymous artist?
It is his choice to be anonymous, so I do not think there are any pros and cons. Being an anonymous artist helps add a certain feel of mystique and unpredictability to his works. Since people do not know his true identity, they can imagine and interpret his works in many ways without being influenced by his identity. Despite being anonymous, his works have strong standpoints.
How were the 150 art pieces selected for the exhibition in Bangkok?
They are highlights carefully selected by exhibition curators. Thus, viewers will experience various art forms such as printmaking, lithograph, sculpture, photos, murals and video mapping.
What do you think of the fact that Banksy's original murals cannot be exhibited?
It is not really possible to bring original murals to the exhibition. People who collect Banksy originals purchase them from a third party who illegally removes them from their locations. It is immoral. I think the value of the murals is in the spaces they were created and the locations where the artist intended them to be. Murals should not be moved elsewhere.
Can you tell us about Banksy's well-known Girl With Balloon?
It is an image of a girl and a heart balloon named There Is Always Hope, but better known as Girl With Balloon. It was created with the stencil technique. It appeared for the first time in 2002 on a wall on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, London. This image is thought to represent hope, dreams, love and innocence which floats away. It is interesting that people interpret the gesture of the girl's hand differently. Some people think she is releasing the balloon while others think she is trying to grab the balloon. Some think her hand gesture forms the sign language for love.
What are the three highlight pieces at the exhibition?
Welcome Mat aims to assist female refugees to settle down. Banksy came up with this concept and design. Female refugees wove mats and earned wages for their work. Mats were woven from orange life jackets left on beaches after the refugees arrived ashore.
Bathroom is a reproduction of Banksy's bathroom. Due to Covid-19 lockdowns, Banksy posted a photo of his bathroom on his Instagram with the caption, 'My wife hates it when I work at home'. A painting depicts nine playful rats in his bathroom -- one rat swings from a towel ring, one steps on a toothpaste, one rolls on a tissue roll, and so on. It is a combination of painting and installation.
Infinity Room is a room with mirrors on four walls as well as the ceiling and floor. The video installation is screened on mirrors in 360 degrees. Viewers can see over 200 art pieces by Banksy in different ways.
How do you interpret rats and monkeys which can often be seen in Banksy's work?
Rats symbolise street art because rat and art are spelled with the same letters in different order. Rats also represent Banksy because rats are chased by authorities and rats usually appear at night. Monkeys are used to criticise humans and society.
Can you tell us about Bronx Zoo which is a reproduced mural displayed at MOCA Bangkok only?
Each city has a different gimmick and the exhibition creator decided to reproduce Bronx Zoo for the first time in Bangkok. Bronx Zoo was created while Banksy was in New York. On the wall nearby Yankee Stadium, he created graffiti of a growling cheetah on a yellow platform. The patterns on the cheetah are symbols used in protest campaigns such as CND, or Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Banksy created some pieces to satire Catholicism. Are you worried about displaying this kind of work?
Exhibition creators have the freedom to present various aspects of Banksy's works whether it be concerning society, politics or religion. MOCA Bangkok does not worry about this issue because the purpose of the exhibition is to educate and view art as an inspiration, not to create conflict.
What is your expectation for the exhibition?
It is difficult to find Banksy's artworks because they are in many different locations. This is the first time people in Southeast Asia can view them. It is an opportunity for viewers to learn about Banksy's life and his ideas through artworks. Banksy's works cause a social ripple effect and present messages and ideas that most people do not dare bring up. I hope the exhibition will inspire viewers.
"The Art Of Banksy: Without Limits" runs at MOCA Bangkok, Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, until Dec 31. Tickets are 350 baht for adults and 250 baht for students. For reservations, go to bit.ly/3f7EDgi. For more information, visit facebook.com/MOCA.BKK.
