Banksy: Wall and Piece

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Also from Banksy's reputed hometown of Bristol, Lazarides met the artist in the mid-'90s, when he was working as a photographer and photo editor for culture magazine Sleaze Nation. Editor Steve Beale "caught wind of this guy called Banksy, so we went down and I managed to negotiate a meet with him, photographed him. It went from there. I was his documenter for the first couple of years and then I went on to kind of manage him, sell his paintings - and the rest is history". There's more to Banksy than the painting on the the first in-depth investigation into the mysteries of the world's most famous living artist. Someone as big as Banksy surely is aware of what is likely to happen to his work? "I guess he's living in the hope that it'll stay there for as long as possible." Author has made an incredible work, collecting all the resources, I just want to say thank, somehow, I feel grateful for this book. I only wish there were more art pictures, but I guess the main point was explaining sense behind Banksy’s certain art pieces and projects, and what happened behind the scenes and the future of those works.

He had been interested in graffiti since he was a teenager - "it was art for us, art for kids who didn't understand art, who didn't go to museums, who didn't go to private schools" - so he was a fan of Banksy's work and the ethos from the start. It isn't just the art world that likes his work. This is the general public, you know. The general public are art lovers, it's just the museums and galleries seem to think that's a bad thing. You know, populism is a bad thing. It's like no, f*** you. Like, sometimes things are popular because people like it, not because it's crass or it's appealing to the lowest common denominator. It's just that it resonates with the public across the world." One of the reasons everyone became so famous and so powerful was the internet. Suddenly everything changed. The rules were different. Tell me one gallery in the world that can get a f****** million hits in, like, 10 minutes. No way. There's no museum, there's no gallery, there's nothing. He has now sifted through around 12,000 photographs to create a book, Banksy Captured; a behind-the-scenes look into the moments that started the anonymous artist on his path to global fame, coupled with Lazarides' anecdotes of their many escapades. Of course, the portraits supposedly of Banksy are taken from behind, or with his face covered, but still provide an intimate glimpse into the art world's biggest enigma.This book is amazing! There are different interviews, from critiques, haters, artists and supporters of Banksy, I loved quotes that were used all along the book made by the artist. Banksy is the world's most famous living artist, yet no one knows who he is. For more than twenty years, his wryly political and darkly humorous spray paintings have appeared mysteriously on urban walls around the globe, generating headlines and controversy. Art critics disdain him, but the public (and the art market) love him. With this generously illustrated book, artist and critic Carol Diehl is the first author to probe the depths of the Banksy mystery. Through her exploration of his paintings, installations, writings, and Academy Award-nominated film, Exit through the Gift Shop , Diehl proves unequivocally that there's more to Banksy than the painting on the wall. He says he is proud to be connected with the world's most famous artist, "not just in this era, but any era".

His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique. Such artistic works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Lazarides has run his own gallery and launched the careers of numerous artists including Invader, JR, Vhils and The Miaz Brothers. He has sold art to A-list stars, and photographed them, too - it's true, he says, when I spot a picture of Dave Grohl on the wall; he really is "the nicest guy". It's not just about - and this isn't me blowing my trumpet - but this isn't just about the artwork itself," he says. "It's about him putting the artwork up. It was about trying to find things I thought would be of interest. It's a different view."

One, they never painted with the idea of someone hanging it on the wall and looking at it full time. But more than that, it's a gift to the city and if it's taken away, it just makes the city a poorer place. There was no rules, he didn't give a f***. We didn't care what anyone thought of us, and not in an arrogant way. It was just like, we don't care what you think, or what rules you've constructed. So the book documents the period from 1997 to around 2004. Lazarides is also selling some of the images, along with other photographs from his collection, as limited edition prints.

Well Hung Lover (2006), mural by Banksy in Bristol, England; the blue paint was added by vandals. (more) It really resonated with the times and it was interesting - and so much art is f****** boring. The reason people liked it is because they could get it. He didn't make people feel stupid. He resonated with people. Lazarides says he will never tell - "I would genuinely be a villain, not just a pantomime villain" - and refers to the artist as a "he" throughout. This takes a slightly different approach to Banksy and his work than most other books out there. Diehl does a good job of highlighting much of the snobbery, contradictions and double standards which remain deeply entrenched within the art world. This isn’t just about Banksy, and often she will use him as a jumping off point to something else, equally compelling, which works pretty well. This was nicely written and Diehl makes for good company and a fine guide through much of Banksy's career.They absolutely hated us because they'd come and say, 'you can't do this'. Well, that's funny, because we just did it. 'You can't charge that amount of money for canvases.' Well, we did and we keep going. A lot of these guys stop painting on the street because what's the point? You know, if you paint something and it lasts under 30 minutes before someone comes and rips it off the wall, then why would you continue painting on the street? It's pointless. So, yeah. To take it off the wall and deny the general public their fix of these artists for the gain of one person I think is wrong." Lazarides says there was no animosity when they parted ways. He had to take a break; managing Banksy as his fame grew became "all-consuming". It's only in the last five or six years that graffiti has become almost impossible to get arrested for. You know, before that, these guys were really risking their liberty. So his anonymity was born from that."

Just think about it, Banksy is an artist or a group of artists that no one really knows anything about? Crazy huh? In the world of internet and social media, where everyone knows everything about everyone.

Is this the closest the world will ever get to seeing Banksy? Who knows. Maybe he will reveal himself, one day?