Fancy having your designs immortalised on a t-shirt?? Then get in contact with us because we’re looking for up and coming Irish talent to collaborate with us on our forthcoming range of clothing.
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Believe it or not, this rather rambling blog post started out life as a business plan. If the boss is reading, I’ll have the plan done this week – honest!!!
Anyway, I recently watched the film documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop” by world famous street artist Banksy and it got me thinking about the whole “business” of street art. Ignoring the fact that there is a question mark over the film as to whether or not it’s a spoof, I was very interested in the celebrity status that now seems to be afforded to these mostly anonymous artists. With this celebrity status comes a celebrity following with A-Listers turning up for gallery openings. Inevitably, vast riches follow for the artists as the celebrities want to be seen to be owners of a piece by the celebrity artist (Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera are reportedly owners of “A Banksy”). With the world being so celebrity obsessed these days does this mean we too start to like the artist and their work purely because of the celebrity status?? Or do we actually like the art and its message?? As much as we would like to say otherwise, I suspect for most people it’s a little bit of both.
I also suspect it’s the same for the artists as well. No matter what they might say about “doing it for the love of their art”, we all crave acceptance of our work whether it be street art, a novel, a play or indeed a business plan……. Is it about becoming rich and famous, building and enhancing your “brand” with each passing exhibit or piece of artwork?
Local councils no longer view them as vandalism and mostly allow them to remain untouched. Companies and institutions want to be adorned with “A Banksy” as they believe it gives them street cred and who I am to disagree? Maybe this is the way it’s always been? Was Michaelangelo the Banksy of the late 15th and early 16th century? Did the owners of the Sistine Chapel choose him to paint the ceiling due to his “Celebrity” standing in society? A trivial example I know, but I hope you get where I’m coming from.
Which brings me back to my original question – is it still about the art?? Was it ever about the art??
Finally the Urban Hand blog is up and running. I’m not really sure what its going to contain but hopefully you’ll enjoy it.
Now, time to get creative!!!!!
