Exit Through the Gift Shop

Originally posted at http://itsofficial.com.au/


Banksy is responsible for the satirical, stencilled artwork that pops up unannounced in public spaces around the world. And though I’m just a fan, and not a fanatic; it’s his name alone that got me to the cinema.

Here’s my constant conundrum:
I like seeing movies.
But I don’t want to spend money on mediocre mainstream muck.
So I end up staying home watching Masterchef
(getting a complex because I can’t cook tea-smoked duck).

However, Banksy stands for originality, anonymity, impact and wit... so he would be responsible for my entertainment excursion. And I was not disappointed; this is why...

Crazy in Action

We meet Thierry Guetta, a kooky Frenchman in LA who’d do well replacing his right hand with a camcorder. The man literally records every moment of his life; customers in his clothing store, dinner with the family, taking a dump, and then ... well nothing, the footage is chucked into a box, never to be seen again.

It’s when he tags along with cousin/ street-artist Invader, that his weird obsession gains direction. From now on Thierry will document the street art-scene; from learning the ropes with Sephard Fairey of “OBEY” fame to eventually befriending the notorious Banksy.

Art in Action

Although Thierry stumbled into this situation, it doesn’t take away from the importance of the footage. Street-art can only exist if the artist remains anonymous....underground, so any evidence of the process is historically lacking. Guetta is up on rooftops with street art’s most influential, he’s with them getting busted by cops and Disney security.

For the audience this footage is a rare gift. Unfortunately when Thierry did eventually put it together, it looked as if that gift was wrapped by Freddy Krueger.

Is Art Crazy?

So Banksy suggests Thierry resumes his own street-art efforts... while he creates the film he wanted from Guetta’s stash of uncategorized unlabelled gold. This is where shit gets nuts.
Cue Mr. Brainwash, alter ego of our kooky Frenchman, who became art’s new “It Boy” when he unveiled his extravagant debut show Life Is Beautiful to 7000 of LA’s trendiest.

Fairey said Banksy had created a monster.
Banksy said “I used to encourage everyone to give street art a try... I don’t do that so much anymore."
But ultimately, it was Guetta who said it best “...once I started I was like going into the downward spiral...ahhh”. Ahhh indeed.

Some think Exit is Banksy’s latest clever ‘creation’; others are disheartened by the art world; and a simple soul like me? Feeling engaged and entertained!

It’s Official Exit Through the Gift Shop kicks ass over Masterchef.