Process… an artist’s process has always been something of an intrigue; to see how something can flow out of a person’s cranium and onto paper, canvas or a cement wall is simply fascinating because everyone does it differently. The process of becoming a popular artist, while you’re still alive is something of an art in and of itself. However, there are more respectable ways of achieving this than others.
I recently saw Exit Through the Gift Shop, a doc about graffiti art, during which I was hoping to see a bit of how famed graffiti artists do their dangerous work. Instead, I was met with this little french man, Thierry Guetta, the amateur filmmaker, amateur graffiti artist, and amateur everything. Although I am not opposed to documentarians inserting themselves into the stories they are telling, Thierry was walking a fine moral line. Using his family connections with French graffiti artist, Space Invader, Thierry weasels his way deep into the underground, secretive world of Banksy and Shepard Fairey, (two of the most famous graffiti artists ever) and in so doing, decides this is what he wants to do with his life. He is a pure opportunist and puts everything at risk to make art that people started buying into, with Banksy and Fairey’s blessing, of course. Or at least a quote that Thierry used to promote himself.
The thing that bugs me the most about this film: Thierry has nothing to say. Nothing. He is simply obsessive and doesn’t give a damn about art. Or at least art in the sense of passion. What he makes is art for art’s sake. This is something I have no respect for. Banksy and Shepard Fairey speak to the camera and I think very well not just about their own work and the messages they are sending, but about why they do it. They were also candid about Thierry’s methods. Banksy: “Most artists take years to develop their style, Thierry seemed to miss out on all those bits.” What makes me very very sad is that ridiculously interesting people like Banksy are deterred from inspiring others to make art because people like Thierry have not earned respect, found their voice, or create anything remotely interesting with their own two hands. Banksy says near the end of the doc, “I used to encourage everyone I knew to make art; I don’t do that so much anymore.” When he said this I almost cried. And then I became outraged at the awful art that was being sold for thousands of dollars a piece to a person who hired an army to create the art itself and who calls himself, Mr. Brainwash. UGH.
Photo Courtesy of Ericka Nelson
I did love seeing footage of Shepard Fairey and Banksy, (who must have had a hand in funding the film since it says “A Banksy Film” right on the front.) Their work amazes me and right around the time that the doc came out, a friend and I went hunting for one of 3 Banksy walls in Boston (see above). In the film you see how both of them work. Shepard at Kinko’s cutting his own stencils with the help of 1 assistant. The only reason why I can see Banksy would support this film is if it was a joke. Read the New York Magazine article here.
It also made me think of the documentary My Kid Could Paint That about a 4 year old artist who’s paintings were selling for a pretty penny. It was argued that the little girl was being prodded by her parents to paint more, (feasible after the cash started coming in.) But the question of art for art’s sake and making art because you love it, or making art as therapy or making art as whatever your process happens to be… is it still art? And who decides the value? As a filmmaker, I’m still finding my own voice and style and working very hard at it. The fact that a man can travel with the best graffiti artists in the world and then do it himself, as successfully as he did, makes me wonder how many filmmakers ‘made it’ this way. Additionally, out of those, how many do I love their work? There’s no way to answer these questions unless a documentary was created, wink wink.
Total side note, I love Shepard Fairey and there is a permanent collection at the ICA in Boston. Check it out if you’re in the area!
