Having received a lot of positive comments on the first post of Banksy's photos, I thought you might enjoy some more. I took 100 pictures when I visited the Banksy artist exhibit in downtown Montreal, in the Festival area. In Part 1, I shared 31 of my favorites. Here are 17 more pics that I have selected for you. For those who missed Part 1, below is the short BIO I published about the artist. Enjoy.
Biography
For those who may not have heard of him, Banksy is a pseudonymous street artist, political activist, and film director based in England. He is known for his distinctive graffiti and stenciled works, often combining satirical social commentary with dark humour. His art frequently critiques political, economic, and social issues such as war, consumerism, and surveillance. Despite his global fame, Banksy has managed to maintain his anonymity, and very little is known about his personal life or identity.
Banksy first gained widespread attention in the 1990s, with his works appearing on walls and public spaces in and around Bristol, England. Over time, his art spread internationally, popping up in cities all over the world. He often employs stencils for quick execution, which has become one of his trademarks.
His art really makes you look at the world through a different lens. What motivated me to share this experience with you is that Banksy is essentially making the invisible visible, which is what this blog is all about. By calling attention to human behaviour, he highlights the insanity of our world. His art is thought-provoking and leaves you pondering over subjects, events, actions, wars, religion, violence, other artist's work, and people at large.
I AM AN IMBECILE - This was part of a theme park modeled after Disney Land that Banksy co-created with other artists called "Dismaland Bemusement Park." This is a balloon that was featured as part of that "spin" on theme parks.HMV - Banksy appropriates the famous RCA Victor record label logo, which features the dog aiming a rocket launcher at the record player, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the music industry.PARANOID PICTURES - The modification of the iconic logo serves as a clever subversion of popular culture, highlighting the artist’s ability to juxtapose familiar imagery with thought-provoking messages.PREGNANT MONKEY - The pregnant monkey is a satirical interpretation of an iconic Vanity Fair photo of Demi Moore, grotesquely shocking with a cigarette hanging from her mouth.SALE ENDS TODAY - The art speaks for itself.TRUE LOVE - The art speaks for itself.HEAVY WEAPONRY—This is a remarkable example of Banksy’s stencil work, showcasing intricate details and a sense of depth that almost creates a 3D effect. This image features the iconic elephant motif, which has been skillfully traced to capture its movements.
GUANTANAMO BAY - The artwork depicts a Guantanamo prisoner wearing a hood on a picturesque beach in Cuba. It serves as a powerful political statement, highlighting the violation of human rights and offering a striking juxtaposition between the prisoner and the serene sea landscape.GOLF SALE - Art speaks for itself.APPLAUSE - The artwork challenges our cultural perception of war, urging us to question the absurdity of modern warfare. Using a well-known photograph of former President George W. Bush de-planing a military bomber, Banksy adds a figure holding a cue card with the word “APPLAUSE,” implying that we are expected to blindly applaud leaders who initiate war, regardless of its consequences.HAPPY CHOPPER - The cartoon-inspired skyline features an Apache Attack helicopter adorned with a pink bow to convey a message of child-like innocence and challenge society’s romanticized perceptions of war and invasion.FLYING COPPER - The art speaks for itself.BIRD AND GRENADE - The composition includes a closing circle reminiscent of the “Looney Tunes” cartoon ending, with the phrase “That's’ All Folks.” This playful piece invites us to contemplate the contrast between the lightheartedness of popular culture and the harsh reality of violence.TURF WAR - The image of former prime minister Winston Churchill, made up into a punk rock icon with a green “turf” of Mohican hair, harks back to demonstrations in May of 2000 in London, known as the “Turf Wars”DOUBLE TOXIC MARY - Against a shimmering gold background, the painting depicts two mirror-image versions of the Virgin Mary cradling baby Jesus, both feeding them orange hazard bottles while a rifle sight hovers above.BETTER OUT THAN IN, NEW YORK - A montage of various street art.VALENTINE'S DAY MASCARA
Exit The Exhibit
Banksy also directed the 2010 documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop," which tells the story of street art and its commercialization. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Because of his anonymity, there is constant speculation about his identity, with various rumours linking him to different artists or groups, but none have been confirmed.
Banksy's art seems to be calling attention to what is happening "now" in the world and questioning how much longer will we remain on this path of insanity. So I leave you with the song "How Long Is Now" by Pyramid Tropic.
Patrick, a.k.a. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Bionicman
How Long Is Now – Pyramid Tropic
One star, one sky to light the end of day
One room, one song to dance the night away
One heart, one mind within the violet hour
Restart, unwind to feel the silent power
Always feel the morning long before it comes too soon
We are left within the shadows underneath the moon
Keeping close just like you held me for the first time
How long is now
Before the night fades
How long is now
Before the light breaks
We chase hotels into the golden light
Before the sun burns us in amber bright
Won't go, can't last, don't want this dream to end
To become the past, things seem so different then
Always turn to watch the sky become a brighter shade
As every star burns out the slow reveal of endless days
Hold me closer don't imagine this will end too soon
How long is now
Before the night fades
How long is now
Before the light breaks
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