[mace]

Blek interview re Blek vs Banksy.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025790/Banquesy-The-Frenchman--known-Blek-le-Rat--accusing-Banky-stealing-guerilla-art-style.html

Think Banksy's respect for Blek is true not sarcastical. But I also think that Blek's overemphazising is a bit annoying.

[randomname]

Oct 8, 2014 3:22:12 GMT 1 WOOF said:

Oct 8, 2014 2:13:21 GMT 1 randomname said:

Like I said, look at the timeline of his work. Before 2002, everything he did was a one-color stencil (usually black). After that, he started putting down a white base layer like a certain other artist who was fairly well known by then. Banksy had been using stencils since the late 90s. 

That might not sound like a very big difference, but when you look at the work, this doesn't look too similar to Banksy.




Blek takes credit for being the "father of stencil art." Stencil art has been around for at least 1,200 years and stencil graffiti began showing up in NYC in the 60s and 70s. So he didn't invent the stencil and he didn't invent stencil graffiti. If two people choose to paint stencils of people, some similarities are inevitable.

So in short, I think the similarities between their work are overstated, especially when you compare Blek's early work to Banksy. I also think Blek has made a pretty good career for himself using Banksy's name every chance he gets.

Was gonna find a bunch of pics, but someone did all the hard work for me.

imgur.com/a/CEyy3

What you fail to mention is blek's pieces without a white layer are on white walls. The images you point to in his timeline even show that.

Blek has been making art far longer than banksy, and he certainly wasn't a nobody before banksycame around - especially in france. and your arguement that stencil has been around for 1200 years is ridiclous as you know that's not what they mean when they say that. If you can point to someone who's more well known for doing stencils before blek's time, I welcome hearing about them...

Does that look like a white wall that I posted? It looks more like cinder blocks to me. In fact, most of his early images are black stencils on concrete. None of them have a white layer. I can post a few more if you don't believe me. What you can't post is an early Blek piece with a white base layer.



















I could post more, but I think you get the idea. Blek's work didn't look all that similar to Banksy until after Banksy.

As far as other stencil artists go, google John Fekner. His work was very well known in NYC in the 70s and 80s, though he was anonymous at the time. When Blek says he was inspired by NYC graffiti artists, he's one of the guys he's talking about. 

[Deleted]

Oct 8, 2014 0:54:27 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Maye I'm just a super noob but this thread is confusing me.

How are so many picking up these prints while others can't?

I'm going out on a limb here to say..... Noob.

All that is needed is to follow the link I provided.

[BKBOI]

lovely debate Blek vs Banksy. no point comparing and no one cares who was first and who followed who. The market and instituitons have already decided that Banksy's works are more important and hence the prices. Should spend more time analyzing how Norwegian artists that followed after Dolk fame are commanding higher prices than this guy who has been doing stencil art on the streets since the early 90's.

[WOOF]

Oct 8, 2014 4:50:12 GMT 1 BKBOI said:

Should spend more time analyzing how Norwegian artists that followed after Dolk fame are commanding higher prices than this guy who has been doing stencil art on the streets since the early 90's.

Srsly.

[Deleted]

Not another Blek vs Banksy debate !!!

randomname - we have heard your opinion, stencil has been here for 1200 years but Banksy is the inventor of white background lol Truth and fact is that when Blek was doing stencil in the 80s, Banksy was a baby. Point.

[Deleted]

Chris Stain was doing stencils in the late 80's in the US. nothing to do with the Blek/Banksy conversation really, but just want to point out that they weren't the only stencil artists around (there's countless others).  Rene Gagnon could be part of the conversation as well

Chris Stain:

www.google.com/search?q=chris+stain&client=firefox-a&hs=liY&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=7z81VKH1DLTCsASel4D4Bg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1760&bih=872

edit:  I'm sure Banksy has in some way been influenced by Blek, but I'm sure there's many other stencil artists he was into as well.  I love Blek's work, but think he's trying to ride Banksy's coat tails a bit too much ( I thought he came off particularly bad in the BBC doc)

[randomname]

Oct 8, 2014 7:22:38 GMT 1 @thebigboss said:

Not another Blek vs Banksy debate !!!

randomname - we have heard your opinion, stencil has been here for 1200 years but Banksy is the inventor of white background lol Truth and fact is that when Blek was doing stencil in the 80s, Banksy was a baby. Point.

The point seems to have gone over your head. Their styles didn't look all that similar until Blek changed his to look more similar. When you compare Banksy's work to what Blek did in the 80s, they don't look much alike. 

You might also notice that Blek quit painting stencils around 1992. For almost a decade, he only wheat pasted posters. Then in the early 2000s, the stencils came back looking significantly different than before. 

Also, before Banksy came along, Blek was pretty damn obscure. It's hard to imagine that a ten-year-old kid living in Bristol would be aware of some random graffiti in Paris that was mostly buffed within weeks or days. Life was a little different before the internet. 

[Rouen Cathedral]

Oct 8, 2014 4:50:12 GMT 1 BKBOI said:

lovely debate Blek vs Banksy. no point comparing and no one cares who was first and who followed who. The market and instituitons have already decided that Banksy's works are more important and hence the prices. Should spend more time analyzing how Norwegian artists that followed after Dolk fame are commanding higher prices than this guy who has been doing stencil art on the streets since the early 90's.

That's the irony. Everyone is so obsessed with how the market and institutions have decided.

Isn't street art suppose to be sans market and institution?

[balibob]

In an effort to get back to the point, I like his new images, shame I've only just seen this thread.

[BKBOI]

Trying to see if I can make it tonight. Is it by invitation only? I bought a print from the show, hope that at least gets me an invite as well.

[WOOF]

Oct 8, 2014 16:11:36 GMT 1 BKBOI said:

Trying to see if I can make it tonight. Is it by invitation only? I bought a print from the show, hope that at least gets me an invite as well.

If you bought a print, you're RSVP'd as far as I know. That said, I'd just click join on the fb invite since that's what they're using for the list IIRC.

[BKBOI]

just got a confirmation from DK. Looking forward to the show tonight.

[robertjones]

Pics of the show tonight plz

[cerulean]

Looking forward to the opening tonight and catching up with forum members!
Who else is going?

[BKBOI]

[BKBOI]

[samfrost]

Good wine, great art. Nice setting to chat with him as well.

[BKBOI]

and no tube for peeps picking up their print

[mega]

So bummed I missed it...I was supposed to be there...
Thanks for the pics!!

[cmodart]

Snagged a ballerina. Those monos are amazing together.

[sincebyman]

Would really like a violinist, but it appears pre sales are closed.

[yoyosh]

Thanks for posting pix, looking forward to this print arriving

[thisisanton]

Any sightings of rats?

[bone]

Is there a meaning behind the images in the show?

[BKBOI]

last one and I am done

[mouser]

Oct 9, 2014 2:27:57 GMT 1 thisisanton said:

Any sightings of rats?

blek le balerina sorta sounds less street somehow....

[skendo1]

Anybody want a show card?

[Happy Go Lucky Chap]

Oct 9, 2014 3:26:10 GMT 1 skendo1 said:

Anybody want a show card?

Yes please

[robertjones]

Oct 9, 2014 3:26:10 GMT 1 skendo1 said:

Anybody want a show card?

Yes plz