Banksy street art is museum-quality exhibits – La Nacion (Argentina)

A group of 150 works by the mysterious British artist revolve around war, capitalism and freedom

Palazzo Cipolla: the first major exhibition of the most emblematic works of Banksy can be seen in Rome until September. Photo: EFE

ROME War, Capitalism & amp; Freedom. It is the title of the largest exhibition so far dedicated to the famous and mysterious British artist known as Banksy, an icon of urban art, which opens today in this capital and will run until 4 September.

an Italian foundation called third pillar, already made other experiences in artistic field is the one commissioned to gather and bring to the eternal city 150 works of street artist born in Bristol in 1974, whose principal merit is to have managed to remain invisible during the two decades in which unveiled his art.

anonymity adapts well to works from the early 2000s denounced mood and ferocity contradictions of the new century. In particular, war, capitalism and freedom, which was the title chosen by curators Stefano Antonelli, Francesca Mezzano and Acoris Andipa- for this interesting shows. His greatest ambition is it they say didactic: to reach all audiences and contemporary art, in this case the street art , the art of the street, shake consciences

in fact, it is difficult to remain indifferent to the original paintings, the stencils , serigraphs, sculptures and rare objects in many cases, they never exhibited before-that can be seen in the sample, as for example, that can of Coca-Cola simile homemade bomb …

All that can be admired, including stencil with the signing of Banksy spray comes from private collections international. In fact, the foundation that organizes War, Capitalism & amp; Freedom is concerned clarify that in this sample non-profit , the artist “is not associated or involved in this museum exhibition.” And that all works come from private collectors, among whom are celebrities like Brad Pitt

Stencil. Plate with the legendary artist’s signature that It maintains anonymity for two decades integrated display. Photo: Foundation Third Pillar

The truth is that it is the largest corpus never exhibited before urban artist, certified by the agency called “Pest Control” London authority authenticates time since his works. The techniques used are painting on canvas, spray, stencil , printing paper, screen printing, installation and film.

Apart from the iconography of peace, war and freedom of the 2000s, present in the sample, its most fervent admirers know that Banksy raised once again its spirit of street complaint last December. Then he decided to leave his own works of Dismaland theme park-a parody of an amusement park with depressed and sad-animators, to accommodate refugees who crowd in the Pas de Calais, where a series of murals made instead, between they the son of migrant from Syria , cynically represented by Steve Jobs.

Very discussed, exalted and fiercely criticized, depending on the occasion, in January Banksy made a graffiti on the back of the French embassy in London representing a young woman in tears (probably inspired by Cosette, of miserable , Victor Hugo), whose feet had a can of tear gas and behind it a French flag, another harsh criticism of European reception policy to refugees. Needless to say that the complaint was immediately graffiti-covered.

The Roman headquarters of the exhibition is the Palazzo Cipolla. This is one of the historical “palaces” of Rome, which rises in the central Via del Corso. The place was restructured just to house contemporary art, with an interior dome and spacious rooms.

There’s iconoclastic work of Banksy -including 50 covers discos- that book unfolds without But unkindly when it is representing children, even if the complaint is strong. It can be assisted, so the representation of a football match on the television ranks of the ball.

Give a new meaning to things seems to be making with spontaneous creativity, this artist who captured the world’s attention from his native Bristol, with its murals that led him to fame

homemade bomb. irony is a hallmark of the creation of the artist who only know he was born in Bristol in 1974. Photo: Foundation Third Pillar

This is how transforms a famous scene from Pulp Fiction with John Travolta wielding a banana instead of a gun. Or desecrates once and for all to Queen Victoria sitting her astride the head of a dubious and shameless young.

There are plenty of touches of humor in this sample born accomplishments and designed for the street, but who failed to resist the flattery of collectors. It is evident, for example, in the work that represents an armored truck followed by their corresponding custody of motorcyclists Peaking hailed a donut (donut) pink on the roof. And it seems a self-portrait image of a young man with angry expression, surprised while wielding the spray with which this “decorating” a wall.

The irony accompanies the sample all the way from the beginning, until the end. The last work, an anonymous landscape with golden frame in the manner of the works of art in traditional museums, indicated by an arrow and large painted letters on the glass Exit Through the Gift Shop .

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