Every good artist seems to have an angle. For Banksy that angle has always been anonymity. The mystery surrounding his identity has long been at the heart of his appeal. It not only lends a cryptic and thrilling subtext to the work but has also largely been the force behind a major public re-evaluation of the relevance and importance of street art. Without the personal fame his rising star would have generated, the success and meaning of the work stands alone, unsullied by a cult of personality.
And of course for a long time remaining anonymous was a practicality! Graffiti artists aren’t wise to court celebrity. But as this veritable powerhouse of street art goes from printed manifestos and a successful book of his work and on to the dizzy heights of Academy Award nominations and celebrity buyers like Angelina Jolie, what’s stopping him from finally putting the face to the name?
Banksy's mysterious identity builds his profile online
Having flourished out of Bristol's underground art scene in the early '90s the artist's penchant for producing big work in risky, high profile locations has kept a captive audience sniffing out his recognisable style and humorous everyman politics whenever they've appeared on a city wall. For years appreciators of street art have Banksy-bombed the relevant internet forums with photographs of the latest work and debates have raged over authenticity as Banksy has neglected to tag (sign) many of his pieces which are usually identified by style, technique and location.
It seems modern art has its Scarlet Pimpernel and his surprise attacks of smart, emotive stencil art have created that rare excitement which extends far beyond the art world and fuels the overdue debate about street art as culture rather than criminality. Media speculation has resurfaced countless times but it’s clear we enjoy the faceless persona who speaks to us only through his satire and artistic energy more than we could ever enjoy the truth. In a world where so much information is on offer about so many of the rich and successful, Banksy’s intentional facelessness is a rebellion we can all get behind.
Exit Through the Gift Shop documentary
Exit Through the Gift Shop is what this roller coaster journey has been heading towards. A movie made by accident. Thierry Guetta, an amateur member of the paparazzi, was on a mission to make a film about street art. He tracked Banksy down and the magic unfolds as the artist seizes control of the venture and makes it his own. Unprecedented access is given as Banksy prepares his work and creates the finished product under cover of darkness. On-camera interviews are granted for the first time – of course with Banksy’s face always obscured and a little voice warping into the bargain.
The film made its world premier in January 2010 at the Sundance Film Festival as a spotlight surprise and received glowing reviews for its fresh and entertaining outsider’s take on the street art phenomenon. Now the Oscars have come calling. The film is an official 2011 nominee in the documentary category and it’s almost a certainty that if it wins Banksy will be nowhere in sight and Guetta will be picking up the award. This is more than appropriate since Banksy has long engaged and inspired us with his beliefs about the need to reject hierarchy in art and to think outside the box at all times. (His most notable work in this vein could be the piece on the steps of the Tate Britain which simply read ‘Mind the Crap’. It has since been removed.)
Can Banksy now reveal his identity?
Banksy has been indulging in illicit activity with his stencils and spray can for years now and of course there was a need to protect himself against prosecution by concealing his identity. But it’s easy to wonder, when a building price in London can now rise substantially if it happens to have been touched by his artistic hand, how much longer it can continue. The interest in street art is rapidly increasing for better or worse and so is the balance of Banksy’s bank account as he exhibits in galleries, fills column inches and sells work to high profile stars. More people are going to become privy to his identity and inner world, which could make operating under the radar harder to achieve.
Banksy perhaps wishes to keep working on walls in cities all over the world which is a great case for keeping his face out of the press. But can he have his Hollywood cake and anonymously eat it too?
