By Sandra Schulman
It’s bizarre that in this modern world with a camera and a snitch on every corner that we still don’t really know who Banksy is. Lots of theories abound, though at this point it’s better to not know who he — we are pretty sure it’s a he – is.
Embraced by collectors and sections of the art world, he sells for millions while thumbing his nose at the hands that feed, and pay, him. We do know this – he is a visual jester, politically active, a fan of street art, fast stencils, has a soft spot for kids with balloons, and is reluctantly British.
The sprawling new exhibit at Miami’s Ice Palace Studios, The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, recently made its American debut and runs through mid-April.
The exhibition has prints, stencils, several experiential areas, a London Underground train station mockup, photos, lithographs, sculptures, murals, and video mapping installations created for this tour.
“Visitors will find conversation starters around every corner of this exhibition, as Banksy is an exciting and compelling artist we delight in sharing with the public for the first time in Miami,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Global Entertainment, in a prepared statement. “Some consider Banksy a prankster and others regard him an artistic genius — no matter one’s perspective, worldwide it’s clear that everyone agrees Banksy’s popularity and influence cannot be denied.”
“Banksy has a unique power to express strong political statements with poetry, energy and humor and an unnerving ability to get to the heart of the subject matter,” Biallas said in the statement. “Any location that features Banksy’s work becomes the place to see, and in the U.S. that place is Miami.”
While the majority of the art is certified by the artist, more than 20 are reproduced with his stencil technique on the walls by the production company. Those include his March 2021 creation Escape, originally appearing on England’s closed Reading Prison, and Pulp Fiction, featuring Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta pointing bananas instead of pistols.
The inspired Dismaland installations from Banksy’s 2015 pop-up Bemusement Park are so clever they should have brought that whole installation park over and plopped it down here. Depressed employees wear tops that read “Dismal” while the Grim Reaper runs amok on the bumper cars and Cinderella’s castle is run over by rats. Boats in the moat carry immigrants. A faux security entrance is recreated here, where metal detectors and scanners are just painted cardboard.
He pokes and prods the Brits, much like the Sex Pistols did in their day nearly 50 years ago. The uptight coppers are mocked, the Queen is defiled, the flag gets a design do-over, the Parliament is filled with legislating chimpanzees. Knitting grannies make blankets that say “Thug Life Forever” and “Punks Not Dead.”
There are the recognizable prints of Flower Thrower and Kissing Coppers, and the sculpture Death of a Phone Booth. The infamous Balloon Girl, subject of the piece that was shredded at the Sotheby’s auction as soon as it sold, is here, and recently resold for even more money.
A real joke is more valuable than a faux one. Or is it? Does the art world care?
Still, an unauthorized show, by an artist capable of creating and touring his own show. asks the question if this is a real joke or not. His surprise artwork around the world is a great hat trick. The “Better Out Than In” residency he did in New York City during October 2013 was insanely clever, with a work a day popping up in the three boroughs, authenticated by a dedicated website and an Instagram account.
The founder of the exhibition, Kemal Gurkaynak, says it’s really about conversation.
“The Art of Banksy: ’Without Limits’ is not an exhibition but a show with a philosophy, as Banksy loves to provoke, shock and even disturb society,” said Gurkaynak in a prepared statement. “He does it with humor and poetry indeed. Banksy has the unique ability to express through his works some truths that most people don’t have the courage to say out loud. And, nowadays, we need to be sincere, empathetic and caring to one another more than ever. This is what Banksy’s art does: it has the power to unite people, ideas, values that can change the world for the better.”
So viewer beware and be aware that this is, and is not, Banksy.
The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, is open daily through April 17 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and Wednesdays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Ice Palace Studios is at 1400 N. Miami Ave. in Miami. For tickets or more information, visit ArtOfBanksy.com.
