I had a chance to go to the ‘banksy nyc’ exhibit at the Vanina Holasek Gallery in new york city. I had no idea he had nothing to do with the show.. but once I walked in, I noticed it was ‘set-up’ kinda cheesy…90% of the work were prints and maybe one or two street pieces (a locker door and sign). There were fake rats all over the place, splattered paint on the walls and caution-tape all over. The pieces were hung crooked and some had ripped bubble wrap around them….the gallery was selling posters, t-shirts and christmas cards (25$)!.
I much rather see banksy, or any graffiti artists, on the street. I know its much harder in the U.S., but I did have the opportunity to see some of his rats in LA a few years back. Having a show where the artist has nothing to do with it, kinda threw me off, specially when they tried so hard to make it look legit. it was weird. I did enjoy seeing things with my own eyes, as I would with anything, but would have rather been at his LA gallery show or stumbled upon it on a walk.
click image above to view my flickr set of the exhibit.