Banksy Does L.A.

Saw the Banksy show "Barely Legal" this weekend. For some reason I spaced and thought the underground, three-day-only warehouse spectacle opened early, so when we showed at 11am on Sunday it was still closed (for another hour yet). We waited patiently in the oppressive heat with a dedicated and growing crowd from all walks of life: the obligatory hipster, wackjob older hippies, parents and kids, business men, poseur blinged-out Persians kids, even Kirsten Dunst.

Really enjoyed it. I definitely don’t agree with all of his politics/ideologies (eg anarchy), but I can appreciate the mode of message. Thought the images hanging in the living room were amazing – you could actually see the brush strokes if you got close enough, which was wild considering that some were incredible knockoffs of famous works. The works of juxtaposition in the backroom were also really good.

I think his works can hit you over the head a little too bluntly at times, which is ironic because I think he does so on purpose in order to hit the lowest common denominator - a practice he blasts repeatedly with his criticisms of mass marketing.

I also think his message of protest misses in effect because he preaches anarchy, but advocates change that can only be brought about through engagement of the political system, not through dismissal.

The guy is a heap of contradictions, but I find his courage inspiring. And he surely is getting his message out there.

Pics of the opening party, and nearly all the works on display.