Sers' blog: The Art of Banksy exhibition, Auckland 2018. Part II. ... 16 PHOTOS

Originally posted: The Art of Banksy exhibition, Auckland 2018. Part II. ... 16 PHOTOS

The Art of Banksy exhibition, Auckland 2018. Part II.

16 PHOTOS

Aotea Centre
Auckland
5 January - 6 February

The exhibition contains collection of 80 original pieces by one of the most intriguing and famous street artists in modern history. Banksy, who refrains from revealing his identity and does not appear in public, is a painter, graffiti artist and social activist, considered one of the world's top political graffiti artists.

Banksy has gained his popularity through a range of urban interventions, from modifying street signs and printing his own currency to illegally hanging his own works in institutions such as the Louvre and the Museum of Modern Art.

The exhibition, curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, displays the largest collection of Banksy's works.
Among the wors - the famous painting of the girl with the red balloon, known as "Girl and Balloon". Another Banksy’s work "Laugh Now" – a famous graffiti piece that depicts a monkey with a sign hanging from his neck with the words: "Laugh now, but one day we'll be in charge."

We show here Banksy’s iconic works as well as his less known paintings.

This is the second article about 'The Art of Banksy exhibition’. The first article about the exhibition:
The Art of Banksy exhibition, Auckland 2018. ... 14 PHOTOS

The Art of Banksy exhibition, Aotea Centre, Auckland 2018.

Radar Rat (Sonic Rat). 2004. Rats are recurring theme among Banksy’s works. He was inspired by Parisian artist Blek Le Rat, who painted at the streets of Paris in 1980s. Many of his works featured similar rats.

Flying Copper. 2004. In this image, a police officer, dressed in full riot gear, with the guise of an iconic, yellow smiley face, is a satirical contract between what is associated with happiness, the smile, and the starkness of militarized control. The small, delicate white wings on his back sharply contrast the cold, grey helmet and gun, their size hardly strong enough to lift a grown man out of harms way. Similar to the infamous “Rage, Flower Thrower,” the image is reminiscent of photographs taken from the street riots in the Middle East and Soviet Union.

Save or delete (Greenpeace). 2002. This print was originally commissioned by Greenpeace to highlight the problems of global deforestation as part of their Save or Delete campaign. The image, which features some of the main characters from Disney’s 'The Jungle Book', was transposed onto a picture of a devastated forest, intended for use on posters, billboards and postcards. While it was printed, it was never put into circulation because of threats by Disney. The original sold for £78,000, 11 January 2011, at Bonhams.

Rats and monkeys are Banksy’s one of the most favourite subjects. Gangsta Rat (Dark Pink). 2005.

At the exhibition.

Crazy Beats. 2003. A mural, was put on a wall of a privately-owned building in London‘s Stoke Newington, featured a parody of The Royal Family waving from a balcony. Hackney Council had mistakenly sent letters to a wrong address of the property owner inquiring about removing the artwork. When they received no reply, they ordered the Banksy to be painted over.

Danger Monkey (Pregnant). 2006. Monkeys (and rats) are Banksy’s one of the most favourite subjects.

At the exhibition.

Happy Chopper, Have a nice day 2003, Happy Choppers depicts a squadron of armed military helicopters with the lead “chopper” dressed in a pink bow. Banksy painted the Happy Chopper image numerous times and it has since become an iconic part of his repertoire.

'Girl With Balloon' is undoubtedly one of his most iconic works. The original work depicts a young girl losing a heart-shaped balloon to the wind. The girl is seen standing in front of a gust of wind in black and white. The quote "There Is Always Hope' that often accompanies the piece seems to hint at the latter.