Banksys film 'Exit through the Gift Shop' is a comical and ironic whilst being extremely interesting and though provoking of the idea of street art, and art in general, and questions what makes something art.
After walking through the streets of Paris for days I discovered much art plastered over brick walls, street pavements and anywhere hidden or obvious, depending on the affect the artist intended to create.
Banksy's film is unique and intriging, looking from the view of a untrained obsessed filmmaking fanatic who follows street artists around, clumsily filming every move with no intention to take this filming any further. Until Banksy asks him to finally make this film on street art which he fails to do. Thierry (the 'filmmaker' is then urged by Banksy to make his own street art with no experience or passion for drawing, painting etc. He follows on to make his own exhibition of his art, costing millions of pounds and selling rip offs of Banskys, Warhols and other Pop Artists work. For example he creates this, a 6ft tall Campbells soup tin can:
The irony of the whole film is that Thierry succeeds in selling lots of his work, making millions of dollars from knowing nothing and being able to create none of his own work. What does this mean? Anyone can do it? Street art is graffiti? There is no substance to it?
What did Banksy say to the fact that someone can do this from nothing in a few weeks?
'I don't really know who the last laugh is on.'
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