[slowmo]

Is Banksy still just one guy? I have no doubt that it used to be, but the recent work, across a lot of medium's and in such a short space of time. Has Banksy now become a trademark for a collective?

Damien Hirst uses artists but names the work Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol done the same. Any opinions?

[corblimeylimey]

How can we ever know when we don't even know who Banksy is.

[elem]

corblimeylimey said:

How can we ever know when we don't even know who Banksy is.

Thats why he asked for an opinion..Not an answer..

[corblimeylimey]

elem said:

corblimeylimey said:

How can we ever know when we don't even know who Banksy is.

Thats why he asked for an opinion..Not an answer..

O.K. my opinion, he could be farming out some of the work, but I think it would all be carried out under his artistic supervision (like Hirst), I really dont think other people are bringing him finished work so he can slap the Banksy label on it.

Come on Banksy, tell us.

[BK83]

Yeh, Its an interesting question, Have thought about it myself for quite sometime now. I must admit, I dont quite like the idea of this art directing thing -- I really hope it is Just Banksy.

[slowmo]

Its already acknowledged that he will use other people to achieve his work (someone else sculpted the drinker for example). In theory I guess anyone could be Banksy, he is not going to deny anything being his if it looks good and generates news. Maybe there is more to those T-shirts than meets the eye

[Curley]

Certainly an interesting question.
As you say Warhol did the same.

[k.Line]

i'm guessing that it is the one guy banksy as well as his crew of friends that do it all. i'm sure they all exchange ideas and then it grows from there, there is obviously no way that all this could be done alone. even just having a guy stand watch is part of it.

[afroken]

I heard a rumour that he is sending out an army of stencilers to do a blitz as he's pissed off that his street art is all being nicked or destoyed. It is just a rumour though

[mido]

sorry, have I just stumbled into a brainstorming meeting for the Hollywood version of 'Banksy: The Movie' ??

afroken said:

I heard a rumour that he is sending out an army of stencilers to do a blitz as he's pissed off that his street art is all being nicked or destoyed. It is just a rumour though

[gbh]

mido said:

sorry, have I just stumbled into a brainstorming meeting for the Hollywood version of 'Banksy: The Movie' ??

afroken said:

I heard a rumour that he is sending out an army of stencilers to do a blitz as he's pissed off that his street art is all being nicked or destoyed. It is just a rumour though

Good idea, I'm off to register the website name now.

[slowmo]

If they're gonna make a movie I would want to see a big spray off finale in some sort of american college high school with Blek le rat, cheerleaders, the lot

[isolation]

Well I saw a video on youtube which featured him doing the guy throwing the flowers and you could see other people in the shot. He clearly has close friends who he works with, his agent for example was his mate before he became his agent. So I think Banksy only does one piece at a time but with a group of associates to help him. Seem reasonable?

[ratpack]

He is aided by a couple of the other artists on POW rostas, especially on some of the bigger pieces.

Oh, and Damien Hirst.

(cough)

[andrewd]

Artists have always used assistants, even Michaelangelo.
Paul Insect occasionally writes on his site that he has been working with Banksy. Whether that is actually assisting on a piece of art, helping with the design of shows or advising on methodology I've no idea.
The Palestinian Wall shows that Banksy has people helping when he's up the ladder spraying.
I've heard that he is concentrating on one off pieces rather than editions of 10 or 25 and is less likely to need assistance for that.

[romanywg]

I saw an actual photograph of Bansy somewhere but can't for the life of me remember where. Banksy had really upset this guy and so the guy took some photos of him that blew his cover. Has anyone else seen these?

[ptron]

I've always thought Banksy has help, it's just too much work for one person. I brought it up before, but I remember him saying he got into stencils because he wasn't so hot at the other kinds of art. My guess is the sculptures and altered oils get farmed out, but that's just my opinion.

BTW On Flickr you can see a picture of the guy who may have done the rat scultures from the LA show:

www.flickr.com/photos/hustlerofculture/246000113/

As for the photos from Brian Sewell that he alledges to be Banksy, I think it's bogus.

[andrewd]

romanywg said:

I saw an actual photograph of Bansy somewhere but can't for the life of me remember where. Banksy had really upset this guy and so the guy took some photos of him that blew his cover. Has anyone else seen these?

Yes, they are on the Brian Sewell website ( google it ) Someone has posted that the photo is not actually Banksy but someone who toured with the Orb.
There is a similar set of photos in the Carribean...again denials all round

[Curley]

andrewd said:

romanywg said:

I saw an actual photograph of Bansy somewhere but can't for the life of me remember where. Banksy had really upset this guy and so the guy took some photos of him that blew his cover. Has anyone else seen these?

Yes, they are on the Brian Sewell website ( google it ) Someone has posted that the photo is not actually Banksy but someone who toured with the Orb.
There is a similar set of photos in the Carribean...again denials all round

The pic on the Brian Sewell website is some one who is known to me and is not Banksy just a top prankster unless he has been hiding his alter ego.

[ratpack]

curley said:

andrewd said:

Yes, they are on the Brian Sewell website ( google it ) Someone has posted that the photo is not actually Banksy but someone who toured with the Orb.
There is a similar set of photos in the Carribean...again denials all round

The pic on the Brian Sewell website is some one who is known to me and is not Banksy just a top prankster unless he has been hiding his alter ego.

The Carribbean ones are more believable though.

[romanywg]

It was the Caribbean ones I had seen.