Better Out Than In
Better Out Than In (the title referencing a quote by impressionist Paul Cézanne, "All pictures painted inside, in the studio, will never be as good as those done outside.) was a residency undertaken by Banksy in New York City during October 2013. Banksy unveiled at least one work of art daily, documenting it on both a dedicated website and an Instagram account. The majority of the works were stencil graffiti and chiefly political, a distinctive characteristic of Banksy. Other pieces and multimedia exhibits toyed with dark humour and satire. The month-long residency drew controversy amongst some locals for its more politically strong pieces, and received mixed reviews from critics. Highlights of the residency included the stunt where an old man was selling original Banksy paintings outside of Central Park for $60 USD, Waiting in Vain (the show's 24th instalment) illustrated a man in a tuxedo holding flowers, presumably jilted by his date, and Sirens of the Lambs, where a military-style cargo truck filled with squealing, stuffed animatronic livestock was driven around the Meatpacking District.
Santa’s Ghetto
According to the press release, “The Ghetto is a squat art concept store that opens for the month of December.It features some of the world’s finest underground artists and attempts to bring an even greater sense of disillusionment to the whole West End shopping experience. It exhibits work that has never been seen before, sells a range of affordable art, and produces some rather dubious novelty merchandise” The pop-up, from its choice of location to artworks, showcases the artist’s sardonic wit and anti-establishment views. With a strong anti-consumerist message (the name conjuring up disillusioned and downtrodden slums) the event sought to disrupt the established traditional gallery model and became more of a touring, experiential exhibition than classic gallery experience. Thematically, the works created by Banksy can be tied to his, arguably, most prolific period. 2002-2007 saw that artist’s output increase as the public’s voracious appetite for his pieces increased dramatically. Iconic works that were once sold in the hundred of pounds now are worth tens of thousands if not millions. Jack and Jill, Kids on Guns, Grin Reaper, Girl with TV and many more have all become awe-inspiring and archetypal of Banksy.
Disneyland Detainee
Documented in the seminal documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” Banksy visited “The happiest place on Earth” Disneyland where he placed a life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee. The hooded figure was placed inside the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at the California theme park with the assistance of Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash.Providing a social commentary on the War on Terror, the duo snuck a backpack stuffed with a deflated blow-up doll through security and inflated the doll near the Rocky d ride on a walkway bench. The display conjured up images of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, where inmates kneeled in sensory gear surrounded by wired enclosures. The installation was taken down in less than two hours, but the media had already captured the work through photography and video and circulated the news.
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