One of the issues that continues to arise in my student-counselling sessions is my own value and worth, and my inability or desire to spend or treat myself to something I would easily do for another.
The example I gave in class was the guilt of buying a bottle of wine for $60. Whereas I was only able to justify this purchase by also buying one for a friend, “who would appreciate it more”.
This has led me to my current goal of taking care of myself and being mindful of me.
Therefore when I saw there was a Bansky art exhibit was coming to Vancouver I was intent on taking myself. Whereas previously I would try to find someone interested to go with, today I just went ahead and got a ticket at my earliest convienence, during a time slot I wanted, just for me to be with me. I would learn to love my own company and that this was still a worth while activity even if I did not have anyone to share the experience with.
The Art of Banksy: “Without Limits” has opened this week and is described as a “stunning street art exhibition in a museum quality setting” (as per the website). It features 200 artworks that includes original art, prints, photos, sculptures, installations, murals, etc.
The exhibition has already seen much success in Europe, the United States, South America, Asia, Australia, and other parts of Canada; where over 2,100,000 people have visited. It is known as the largest exhibition centred around the anonymous street artist Banksy, and it is in Vancouver for the first time.
I grew up with his artwork being worthy of news coverage, although at the time did not understand the gravity of what it represented. I just liked what I saw. So today it was nice to relive those memories as a grown adult, where I was able to appreciate and understood what I read.
This is also in line with my goal of wanting to be more politically and globally aware. Having all this presented in a variety of mediums really spoke to my learning style and helped me keep focus with my ADHD brain.
For those who are interested in attending the showcase, but are unfamiliar with the artist’s work, I suggest starting at the movie theatre, right before the exit. A large projector plays news reports of the famous street artist, including what little is known of him and a summary of his most notable bodies of work. You can even make yourself comfortable on one of the few scattered bean bag seats as you watch.
Barring that, the enterance does draw a time line of the evolution of his street art over the years. Each theme and photo accompanied by a little blurb to get you up to speed.
Entry to the exbit is through a crudley built, border security check-in, painted white with black outlining. It includes a metal dector you walk through, screening machines that you would run your belongs through, and even shoes that would normall be removed. This was the welcoming sight to “Dismaland“, and the first themed showcase.
“Dismaland Bemusement Park” was Banksy’s dark and twisted take on Disneyland. A secret pop-up exhibit that was only available for public viewing from August 15th, 2015 to September 27 2015, for a total of 36 days.
In person this was a fully functioning amusement park that employed vendors and saw customers. Today it held relics and recreated displays that included a cartoon map and its own currency.
It highlighted one of the main themes that transcends all of Banksy’s work. Consumerism and the misprioritizing of resources. This and the rest of the pieces were like a time capsule, a walk-through history with reminders of scandals like Guantanamo Bay and child abuse by the Catholic Church.
There were mostly pop culture visuals done tongue in cheek. Pieces that helped to create conversation, question status quo, and challenge politics.
Lenin in roller skates, the queen depicted like an ape, Pulp Fiction characters holding banana guns, and a mock up of Demi Moore’s pregnancy photoshoot with ape face; to name a few.
My favourite section told the story of “The Walled Off Hotel”. This was new news to me and I learned of it from videos and dioramas. This was the first and only time that Banksy decorated a hotel.
Still located and operating in Bethlehem, The Walled Off Hotel speaks to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, build in secret with over 90 pieces personally made by Banksy. It spoke to the affects of war on a country and its people, while boasting the worst hotel view.
War in general is an over arching theme. Banksy was never shy to denounce war and project his anti-military beliefs into his art. One exhibit recreated his work in a bomb torn city. People carrying out their ordinary lives, despite all the crumbling infrastructure around them.
His take on the Statue of David wearing a dynamite vest was a juxtaposition of beauty and destruction. As the statue was shielding his face from the would-be dust and carnage with a head scarf.
On a similar vein, a majestic bust was barely visible, engulfed in tear gas smoke with the canister present.
Banksy is no stranger to recreating the historic works of Old World Masters in his image. He hijacked oil painting and portraits from flea markets and to it added visual quips. Jerry the mouse from Tom & Jerry was painted pouring crude oil on to the oil canvas. There was a portrait of a military captain of a pie to his face, CCTV cameras erected in a peaceful country side, a gull-wing door car encountering a man on a horse, and aliens envading a galleon of ships.
The iconic girl with red balloon made multiple appearances. There were a handful of interpretations, as well as updates to the orginal. Two kids with balloons on a pile of guns and girl with a life preserver.
Even religion had its place in this exhibit. Jesus was crucified with shopping bags, speaking to his birthday now being more synonymous with shopping, spending, and gift giving.
Mother Teresa’s skin care routine was called into question.
One wing was dedicated to Banksy’s life in England with identifiers like the Union Jack, British Grenadier Guards, an a red caged telephone booth.
Here, I learned how Banksy used his influence and his ability to sell prints and merchandise to help four men who was arrested for throwing a statue of a known slaver into the river. The story of the Colston Four in Bristol saw Bansky releasing exclusive tee shirts with all profits going towards their defence. He was successful and the men found innocent.
Banksy also used his platform to help further gay rights. Two cops kissing was placed in Brighton, the city which has been referred to as the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK.
I really enjoyed learning the story behind the art. The stencil of the woman sweeping under the rug spoke to “the reluctance of the western world to consent to global issues of poverty”.
Common characters included monkeys, rats, and the police. The police were made to appear clumbersome and over functioning.
Monkeys were used to depict the monarchy and governing bodies. Especially striking was monkey congress. A handsome painting brought to life with LED lights, comedic music, and monkey audio mixed in with parliamentary discussions.
Rats represented the toil of the very day man with rats holding signs and dressed as thugs, anarchists, punks, and activists.
I especially loved how they took over a washroom and spoke to the time spent indoors counting down the days of quarantine during the world’s pandemic.
I didn’t realize Banksy also did commercial album covers, which including blur’s “Good Song” album. The artists he collaborated with and the message of their music always aligned with his own politically charged views. Most iconic was a print of the queen sitting on the face of a submissive, half dressed woman. This spoke to the monarchy and its social power over the people.
A major highlight and the best photo op of the show is the Infinity Room. Mirror to mirror walls as a projection of Banksy’s work ran like a sped up power point presentation.
If you plan on reading every plaque and really learning about this artist, be sure to give yourself time. I spent about two hours at my own leisure.
As a keepsake, ticket holders have the ability to spray paint their favourite replicated Banksy’s art on their own tee with a premium ticket purchase. I was in no need of this so passed. The premium adult ticket is $61, a regular adult ticket is $34. So the price pretty much covers the cost of the material and the tee.
If I am being honest the tee shirts were shape-less and the prints were created with cut out stensils. You get to choose your paint colours and actually spray for yourself. However, the results looked sloppy and not in line with quality of the actual merch. Although purchasing merchandise from the Banksy gift shop does go against what he represents and advocates.
When purchasing tickets online you pick your day and time slot. The pricing is tricky, as the number listed on the calendar isn’t the same as when you click on the date to buy. The best deal is on Monday to Thursday, with standard $46 Friday to Sunday.
Once again I grew up with a lot of these images, not really paying attention to what they stood for then, and just enjoying what I saw. Being alone now and being able to explore it all to my content was a treat. I was able to go at my own pace and read up on the significance that each piece played on history with it stark and honest satirical criticism. A show I can highly recommend.
1 Alexander Street, Gastown, Vancouver
