Learning about Banksy's Art Work at a Toronto Art Exhibition

I am not most current with our contemporary artists. However, while watching the evening news recently, I learned of an art show by Banksy  which was going to be held in the west end of Toronto.

Lining up for tickets to the Banksy exhibition 

What made it to the evening news was the theft that took place during the set up of the show at the Toronto venue. The video camera caught the thief blatantly stealing and walking out with a piece of Banksy's art work from the site while workers were setting up for the show.

After I learned about the art show, we took my mother downtown to see it too.








I have never heard of Banksy and I have learned a few things about him and his work from the art show.



         

Banksy started his work as a street artist drawing his art on street walls

In fact, very few people have met or known much about Banksy except his close partner. He is an anonymous artist and does not  appear even in his own art shows.

Based in England, Banksy is a  graffiti artist and started drawing on the walls of streets.

He became famous after his art show in L.A. where people lined up for hours  to see his work.

Who could forget the image of the brave man facing the tanks alone?

Banksy garnered a lot of attention when Hollywood celebrities such as Brad Pits and Angelina Jolie showed up for his show as well.

Jesus with gift bags

I found Banksy's work dark in some way and different as he tends to choose famous subjects but put in his own twists to create a new satirical message in his artwork.

Very often, the messages are quite ironic such as these  two here.

For example, who could forget the image of the brave Chinese man standing and facing the tanks alone in the Tian An Men Square massacre in China in 1989?  Banksy took this famous picture and put his own twist to it and created a new message. 

The work on the right with Jesus being crucified on the cross. Banksy added some gift bags in Jesus' hands.
Yes, Jesus' death and resurrection is the greatest gift to mankind.

Have a nice day, really?

A girl hugging a bomb?

The current Banksy's exhibition in Toronto contains about 80 pieces of the artist's work which is the biggest collection in the world.

Due to popular demand, the exhibition will be extended until the middle of August near the Lansdown TTC subway station.















Visitors to the Banksy exhibition can learn more about the art pieces by listening to a self guided audio tour.

R.T.
The Art of Banksy Exhibition
Toronto, Canada