Artwork is the most subjective thing in the world, but it is also one of the most popular forms of self-expression. No matter where you are, there is some form of art around you. You continuously engage with art in your everyday life, from listening to music or watching a movie.
One of the most popular forms of art has been visual arts. It is tangible, transferable, and has an intrinsic value. Visual arts such as graffiti, painting, murals, and other things are popular amongst people inclined toward any art.
Many painters have left their mark on history, from classic painters like Vincent Van Gogh, Claud Monet, and others to modern world painters like Banksy and KAWS. If you want to learn more about Banksy and his works, you must read this article which covers a lot of information about Banksy. If you compare today’s art with classics, you will realize the world has come a long way.
Today, he is one of the most common and famous names in the art scene, but the shocking part is that no one knows who he is. It is a common belief that he hails from Bristol, England. He keeps his identity secret to avoid any legal trouble for his graffiti.
Here are some surprising facts you might not have known.
An unknown artist
As mentioned earlier, everybody knows about his work, but nobody knows about him. The primary reason for his anonymity is that graffiti is somewhat illegal, and one could get in legal trouble for it, no matter how famous the artist or the art is.
He is arguably the only artist no one has ever seen, but his paintings and other art attract the most attention at auctions. Moreover, his Instagram is also followed by eleven million people. This type of fame and attention for an anonymous artist is unparalleled and unheard of.
He paints for a cause
When the pandemic hit the world, people realized that the true superheroes were doctors and nurses. To pay respect to the frontline workers and the NHS, Banksy painted a young boy playing with a doll of a masked uniform nurse, with a dustbin in the background where the traditional superheroes are kept.
One day this piece of art magically appeared at University Hospital Southampton with a note that said, “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place, even if it’s only black and white.” The name of the painting was Game Changer. And all the proceeds from the painting were donated to the well-being of the University hospital and its staff.
He once destroyed his painting after it was sold
Back in 2018, at the hit of the gavel, the painting Balloon Girl was sold for over a million dollars. But as soon as it was sold, the frame beeped, and the painting shredded halfway.
Sotheby’s confirmed that Banksy only did it by validating with the artists’ representatives. The artist kept the painting in an original frame, signifying that it was always his plan. Moreover, he posted the whole process of making a frame with a shredder on his Instagram account, with Picasso’s quiet in the caption – The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.
So, these are some exciting things you might not have known about this sensational yet anonymous artist.
