Do you think "Banksy" is hypocritical?
I was a fan for a long time, I went to his "cut and run" thing multiple times and kind of fell for the whole shtick for years.
However, in recent times I can't help but acknowledge an apparent hypocrisy that exists in the sphere of "Banksy":
- The message is often anti-establishment/anti-police state
Yet, apparently a sizeable profit is made by authenticating his artwork. Essentially taking a policing/authoritarian stance on work that is by default supposed to be for the public. Some people have pointed out that this is so others can't profit from counterfeit work, rightly so but why would someone so anti-capitalist choose to make a profit from authentication ...why not do it free?
- Consumerism
A few of his art pieces decry the consumerist nature of society (Exit through the gift shop is another narrative against consumerism). Yet, merchandise was available at Cut And Run and not particularly cheap. To me that's contradictory.
- The Anti-Capitalist rhetoric doesn't actually hold up
The biggest stunt I remember was the shredding of the artwork in the auction house. Touted as being a genius rejection of the auction and the profit from his work. Yet, it actually increased in value and drew huge attention to the auction making the piece worth even more.
I could go on and on. These points are based on my own personal opinion and formed due to the information available. It could be the entire thing is misunderstood but I can't help but feel a shadowy, middle aged multi-millionaire from an affluent background masquerading as a political and societal commentator through graffiti ...doesn't quite hold up to the aura that was constructed around him.