Graffiti Wars...Not Only Against the Authorities...

[ulli]

I watched this video last night and posted it to the Here and Now thread.
Then I realized that there it doesn't get the exposure it deserves so it now has it's own thread.
I found it originally at Information Farm, which is a great source of alternative info.

Anyway, I want to recommend it to everyone here as it shows parallels between the alternative art world and the alternative media.
And how the PTB/W want to control info, yet have a hard time drwing the line about what to allow and what to destroy.

Also interesting is how the "vandals" can become celebrities.


A well produced video, great music.

sO5P80x-m6k

[Anno]

Hi Ulli!

I saw this when it was on TV as part of their 'Streets' season. It really put me off Banksy and made me realise just how manufactured he could be. The fact Councils start Plexiglassing his work to protect them whilst spending money to clean other people's off just made me laugh.

There's a few similar programs from that season including one showing this insane American guy following Street Artists around then deciding to have a go himself and doing really well, but at the same time getting caught up in the idea of being an artist and turning into a bit of a diva. It was meant to be about Banksy but he (Banksy) decided to edit the guy's existing footage instead and make the film about him.

[DoubleHelix]

Great documentary, Thanks Ulli.

As a graffiti enthusiast I can sympathise with the street artists, I never knew about this side to Banksy, in my opinion he ain't all that. Biting that french dudes style from 20 years prior to him, see how similar A LOT of his pieces were? you can't throw that down to chance...

A real graff' artist is all about creativity, style and throwin' up freehand. I give Banksy some credit for getting his artwork all around the globe but I'm not diggin the fact that he's rippin off a previous artist, rockin' stencils and dissin street artists.

It was also sad to hear that Robbo got clipped soon after his career was about to launch. Chances are that it was one of Banksy's followers =/

[ulli]

Hi Ulli!

I saw this when it was on TV as part of their 'Streets' season. It really put me off Banksy and made me realise just how manufactured he could be. The fact Councils start Plexiglassing his work to protect them whilst spending money to clean other people's off just made me laugh.

There's a few similar programs from that season including one showing this insane American guy following Street Artists around then deciding to have a go himself and doing really well, but at the same time getting caught up in the idea of being an artist and turning into a bit of a diva. It was meant to be about Banksy but he (Banksy) decided to edit the guy's existing footage instead and make the film about him.

I never realized before and what is obvious to me now is that here is Banksy riding high
when the credit should go to the French artist Blek who came up with the technique first.
No wonder Banksy is in hiding...his conscience is bugging him.

And a graffiti WAR?? Goes to show that testosterone levels are as high as ever,
even in the alternative art world.

I see the real dilemma here with the government officials who have to sort through the mess
and decide what is of value to the public and what is not.

I wonder if our moderators can identify?

[ulli]

It was also sad to hear that Robbo got clipped soon after his career was about to launch. Chances are that it was one of Banksy's followers =/

Very sad indeed. I immediately started to investigate what could be behind it, but so far have only seen speculation.
One answer was that he had locked himself out of his home and fell backwards down some stairs and hit his head.
So it could have been an accident....caused by an act of self sabotage.
This is something that I know about personally-
whereby if one is not wholehearted about big change coming,
which that gallery opening would have represented in his life,
then one's subconscious finds a way out.

[<8>]

I was so happy when Robbo got his breakthrough, and then he ended up unconscious, So tragic..:(

I don't like to jump to conclusions, but one of Banksy's followers are not a far fetched guess..


Thanks so much Ulli............And all my love to you ROBBO..

[ulli]

I was so happy when Robbo got his breakthrough, and then he ended up unconscious, So tragic..:(

I don't like to jump to conclusions, but one of Banksy's followers are not a far fetched guess..


Thanks so much Ulli............And all my love to you ROBBO..

My sentiments exactly.
If Robbo is still unconscous it won't be much longer as he is getting all these healing CMEs from planet Avalon.
I'm so glad we have had practice here in doing this.

[ulli]

Here is the history of stencil graffiti.
http://www.zimbio.com/Banksy/articles/56/Life+Before+Banksy+Blek+Le+Rat

Also interesting is the artist Basquiat who was a poor graffiti artist and became a celebrity of the New York art world
and who died of a drug overdose at a young age.
I saw a movie about his life years ago and overall would not wish this to happen to Robbo.

If you read this blog below you will get a feel of what that leap into fame
and getting picked up as "the darling" of the established art world really means.
It's a jungle.
Maybe some higher hand wanted to protect Robbo.

http://momardi.com/street-art-show-bonanza-this-june-banksy-basquiat-le-rat-at-the-opera-gallery

[ktlight]

Tried to watch the video but it prompts something about against copyright in this country, at 18.08 GMT.

[ulli]

Kt
What about this version? It works here, ok.
Let me know.

fepIn1blLy4

[ulli]

Here is a short video which gives a general idea of how they painted over each others canvas- a wall on a canal.
They could only do it approaching the wall by boat.
Robbo says he even used a lilo once, it was a night in December and he got drenched.

vijUesFQMgM

[ulli]

Bumping this to give this documentary another chance to be seen.
I think it has a lot to say about the relationship between the "alternative" world and officialdom.

I also hope that artists can start depicting what Avalonians are investigating, even if they have to resort to street art.