Customer Reviews

Wall and Piece

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Banksy may be the most well-known (and notorious) graffiti artist in the world, but there is a lot more to him than that. There is a strong case for arguing that he is one of the most important conceptual artists in Britain (although I sure that he would blow a big raspberry at such a pretentious claim and say that a conceptual artist is just someone who can't draw!).

Banksy's art makes some of the most 'happening' members of the Britart establishment look tame and stale and I suspect that in 100 years time, he will overshadow Damien Hirst. But if that sounds too pompous, I should add that this is one of the funniest and refreshing books I've read for a long time. It is a tribute to Banksy's genius that he can make you laugh, but also make a serious point about the society we live in. Banksy argues that it is crazy that we outlaw graffiti, but allow companies and corporations to plaster their messages all over our walls, trains and buses. I don't completely agree with this - an indecipherable graffiti 'tag' is boring and doesn't enhance a public space, whereas Banksy's pictures are witty and thought-provoking. However, it is refreshing to have an artist who genuinely challenges the status quo, rather than relying on cheap gimmicks and shock value whilst selling their art to Charles Saatchi for thousands of pounds.

This is a book that would make a good present for lots of people (my 65-year-old mother-in-law loved it) but buy one for yourself first!

I ordered this book on the strength of a strand on UK television about the artist. What a fabulous book. Although I'm almost of pensionable age and more likely to admire the works of Vermeer I found myself totally in tune with Banksy - and screaming with delight at some of the pieces. He can come and do my gable end any day!

Don't get me started on this, but...

If there's one thing guaranteed to get under my skin, then it's the way art has been hijacked by a few artists, exhibitors and buyers and transformed into a variant of the idiotic high fashion market, where only the happy few who are up to date with new lines of thought know what on Earth is going on. When Britain's only well-known artistic prize can be won by en empty room with a light bulb going on and off then the proverbial man in the street may feel that art, which surely should be for us all, has become elitist and irrelevant.

And so along comes Banksy, with art for the literal man in the street. Maybe it's that I collect super-hero comics, but I just love the whole secret identity thing. In a culture that is so sated with the idea of celebrity, here's an artist who doesn't want to be recognised so that he can be free to get on with his work. How refreshing is that?

But more, I love the work. Witty, thought provoking and, when at its best, as when pictures are painted on the wall the separates the Palestinians from Israel, they're downright powerful. (And to Banksy's great credit, he includes a brief conversation with an old Palestinian man which argues persuasively against creating art on the wall).

Don't be fooled by the low price, it's a big book with hundreds of pictures. And don't pay attention to the couple of reviewers who complain about the quality of the printing. Honestly, I don't know what they're on about. It's fine.

Highly recommended.

Packed full of ideas and a few weird thoughts, this book contains many of Banksy's artistic endeavours - some old some new. Probably the most impressive has to be a trip to the West bank and the de-ja-vu one gets with parallels from the Berlin Wall art.

If Banksy is male, female, or a group of people - I have no idea. But it's a damn fine book and well worth the money if you want to get a glimps at what the underbelly of society thinks about politcal and social issues.

It's great to see banksy's work in a large glossy book like this, but I have to admit to being slightly disappointed when I first got this book. It's not that there's anything wrong with this book, but having already bought Exisencilism, Cut It Out and Banging Your Head Agaist a Brick Wall, I did feel that I'd just been duped. Instead of the new Banksy book I was looking forward to what I had bought was more of a compendium of his previous works. Having said that it still is a very good book, just be warned if you have got his first three books, this does not contain much that you don't already have.

It certainly is true, Banksy has a way of observing that which is both wrong and hypocritical with the world. Be it on the streets of his hometown Bristol, the hustle and bustle of London or the particualry unnerving Gaza strip (and beyond), Banksy has something to say which is at times rather amusing but also poignant.

So we move onto "Wall and Piece" which is a summary of Banksy's work to date. This publication really does step away from his previously published work in that it is a full blown hardback of some weight. His previous books were pocket size, a lot less substantial and thus far more discreet.

This publication has all the integrity and production I have come to expect of the infamous artist, but what I would say is that, being an avid fan and having already purchased his previous three books, at times, I wonder quite how much is new material, as there is quite alot of replication. My recollection of his major new work being his trip to Gaza and that has been published on his website. That said, his images are now larger and therefore have more impact. I feel that this is a book that should be addded to anyones collection of tombs to cherish.

As an aside, if you like his work and approach to life, I suggest you try to find a hardback that was published about 4 years ago by another grafitti artist by the name of "futura (2000)" for he too has a different slant on life and his work is somewhat more ethereal (featuring on many Mo'Wax record covers of the mid 90's) but no less accomplished.

Subversive, funny and inspiring - and so cheeky even your Nan would laugh at it (even though she doesn't approve of graffiti).
This boy's got more cheek than an elephant's bum, and he's clever with it: I can't recommend this book too highly.
Love the quote on the back from the Metropolitan Police, too!

The work in this book will probably make you angry, make you laugh and inspire you in equal meassure.

An essential purchase for anyone interested in street art, modern design, urban fashions or.... even politics.

Some of the work in these pages reminds me of the visual way some of the Jewish prophets used to confront their contemporary society's ideas before the exile of Israel and Judah. Seriously.

Do buy this book, it's a good one.

This book is full of great pictures. It makes a great 'coffee table' book and ideal present. Its graffiti but you know what..? Its inspiring. Banksys Art is concise, iconic and ephemeral. If you are interested in refreshing Art I would recommend 'Wall and Piece' and 'The Lost Art' by Christian Furr, both really inspiring art books in different ways by two of my favourite artists of today.

I have this book and absoluetly love it, it exaplains why he did it, how he did it and some of his experieces and anecdotes. The book is excellent to be able to see decent street art, but then I came across the person Bansky is inspired by. He is fairly unknown here in the UK but HE is BANKSY'S idol, he is called Blek Le Rat and he too has a book out, he is a 56 year old frenchman who has been doing the things Banksy has been doing for years longer, you can buy his book off amazon. I would say buy Banksy's book to see the British side of street art, but buy Blek Le Rat if you want to see the true inspiration behind Banksy's work.