The Banksy reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Banksy

Banksy is graffiti artist of some notoriety from Bristol. His (He is thought to be white and male) stencils have become popular throughoutLondon.

Banksy is a talented artist; he uses his original Street Art form to promote alternative aspects of politics from those promoted by the mainstream media.In doing so he helps provides a voice for the urban unheard, in a manner which improves the quality of their surroundings, and to which they can easily relate. This political purpose behind the so called "Criminal Damage" is reminiscent of the Ad Jammers, who deface corporate advertising to change the intended message and hijack the advert.

Banksy must hide his identity from the public, because graffiti is still illegal in the UK. He does, however, still manage to do paid work for charities (eg. Greenpeace) as well as corporations like PUMA and MTV as well as demand up to £25,000 for canvases. He has, however, been accused of being a sell out and a careerist by other artists and activists.

In 2004 the Space Hijackers gave out spoof vouchers outside a Banksy exhibition to highlight the artists ironic use of anti-capitalist and protest imagery while doing work for corporations and art galleries.

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