SALLY'S ART
213978
ARTIST MOMENT #8
Exit through a gift shop.
-- a Banksy's film.
1. Why do you think Banksy chose to do a film about Thierry Guetta/Mr Brainwash? Because of his art style? Personality? Something else?
- I think Banksy chose to do a film about Thierry is because of his unique personality and his intriguing life experiences. Surprisingly, before his career of producing arts, thierry was a film maker who didn't have an exact career. However, because of his curiosity of recording everything in his camera, he was inspired by a few street art artists he met. Thierry was so passionate about his ideas of doing things he liked, so he put all of the efforts into his art dream, even leaving his family behind. I think Banksy was surprised and interested in his process of being so successful because he started off very thoroughly when he was traveling, but his insistence made him kept his style, especially in a street art career. Although, Thierry had lots of attainments in his own style, he didn't tried to sell his works just to earn money for himself. Instead, Thierry's goal was actually to spread his style in every corner around the world and let everyone knows Mr Brainwash, such idea was what Banksy wanted to accomplish.
2. Do you think Thierry Guetta is a true artist? Copy cat? Some have argued that he is one or the other. Explain your view.
- I think Thierry Guetta is a true artist, not a copy cat. Because street art to Thierry is not about who made which work but it's more like creating a phenomenon of propaganda on street by using graffiti. Thierry was inspired by the experiences that he went with other artists, and not because their actual works. As a result, he enjoyed doing his own style while spreading and maintaining the spirit of street art. On the other hand, Thierry Guetta's goal was to use his personal style to signify the existence of street art, and also, of course, the spirit of Banksy.
3. Why do you think the film is called Exit Through The Gift Shop?
I think the film is called Exit Through The GIft Shop because Banksy wanted to make it attrative and memorable for all the street arts. The reason that Banksy used 'Gift' shop is becaue people generally go to the gift shop of each museum to buy their favourite pieces before they leave, and I think banksy is describing Thierry's each exhibition as a gift shop since everyone desired to buy his works even they are just graffiti or spray works. By using gift shop instead of museum, it brings the sense of street's unformal style which implies the rareness of seeing Banksy's graffiti in museum. Also, the whole film is like a journey in a street art museum or exhibition which is refered by 'The Gift Shop' again.