I read this story about Banksy on the BBC News website today and it prompted some thoughts.
Banksy is a really interesting character, he’s transformed the illegal, defacing, often ugly activity of spray paint graffiti, which is commonly associated with disaffected youth (or sectarianism if you think of Belfast’s murals), into an art form that is appreciated and desired worldwide. His work is valuable, people and organisations fight over ownership and auctioneers rub their hands together with glee when material is to be sold on to collectors.
Banksy remains anonymous, thought to be a ‘he’, he may be a ‘she’ or even a ‘them’ - he has the enigmatic appeal of a masked comic book hero. His work appears without fanfare, potentially anywhere and inevitably generates significant media hype. Being elusive means he avoids getting arrested for causing criminal damage and gets to live his life without the downsides of celebrity.
The dichotomies surrounding Banksy and his works are wonderful;
And his achievements should be applauded; he has created a unique proposition that has been very cleverly (in my opinion) engineered over time. The rise of the Banksy brand would make a fascinating case study for any marketer or marketing agency – I bet the brightest of minds would struggle to create a plan that would elevate any other person/organisation to Banksy’s status.
The story that prompted this post is well worth reading, Dennis Stinchcombe’s excitement is palpable and there is feel good factor about the piece that one might hardly believe could come from an act of vandalism.
I bet Banksy could even do something with my Vauxhall Zafira that would make it look cool.
Or maybe not!
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Banksy is a really interesting character, he’s transformed the illegal, defacing, often ugly activity of spray paint graffiti, which is commonly associated with disaffected youth (or sectarianism if you think of Belfast’s murals), into an art form that is appreciated and desired worldwide. His work is valuable, people and organisations fight over ownership and auctioneers rub their hands together with glee when material is to be sold on to collectors.
Banksy remains anonymous, thought to be a ‘he’, he may be a ‘she’ or even a ‘them’ - he has the enigmatic appeal of a masked comic book hero. His work appears without fanfare, potentially anywhere and inevitably generates significant media hype. Being elusive means he avoids getting arrested for causing criminal damage and gets to live his life without the downsides of celebrity.
The dichotomies surrounding Banksy and his works are wonderful;
- Cheap, hastily produced, template based art that is as valued as oils on canvasses by acknowledged masters
- Antisocial art that inevitably has some kind of social message
- Art in grotty locations that overnight become tourist destinations
- Art that is valued because it’s Banksy not because of its form/content. Has Banksy lifted the value of spray paint street art generally or made it socially acceptable? His own work even has negligible value if people don’t know it is his! This delightful story from the BBC in October 2013 proved that a day selling genuine (but non-disclosed) Banksy art from a New York market stall only netted him $420 (£263).
- He is simultaneously taking this piss out of society, the systems of law and order and the art establishment whilst challenging perceptions, supporting charities and having fun. He could teach the Sex Pistols, and the whole punk music movement, a thing or two about subversion!
And his achievements should be applauded; he has created a unique proposition that has been very cleverly (in my opinion) engineered over time. The rise of the Banksy brand would make a fascinating case study for any marketer or marketing agency – I bet the brightest of minds would struggle to create a plan that would elevate any other person/organisation to Banksy’s status.
The story that prompted this post is well worth reading, Dennis Stinchcombe’s excitement is palpable and there is feel good factor about the piece that one might hardly believe could come from an act of vandalism.
I bet Banksy could even do something with my Vauxhall Zafira that would make it look cool.
Or maybe not!
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