banksey's a genuis

so, i've kind of fallen out of the art world, but exit through the gift shop really reminded me of what smart people who make art to change the world are like. i really think banksey is one of those people. i haven't paid much attention to his art, but it's pretty moving and amazing. i think it's even better than most street art. i know i'm not alone in thinking that, and that's fine.

and, there's this guy space invader in it who put up tile space invaders all over paris and then the world and in 2001 and 2002 i really loved him and took pictures of his space invaders around paris and london, so that made me feel like i was a part of something.

anyway, the movie is about this french guy from la who always video tapes everything and his cousin is space invader so he starts video taping space invader putting up his art around 1999 and then filming other street artists and eventually banksey. he becomes friend with all these guys because they need someone to video tape their work because it's gone so quickly.

then banksey becomes famous and the rest of them follow and banksey wants this guy to finish the documentary about street art that he's been making, but it turns out this guy just films and then saves the tapes but doesn't watch them.

so, the guy does make a horrible documentary kind of thing, and banksey wants the tapes so he can make his own and tells the guy to go back to la and make street art (which he's started to do a little) and have a show.

so, the friend guy takes him really seriously and sets up a huge show of his work and hires people to make his work and just jumps in without any talent or experience. and, the la show is a huge success and this guy, now mr. brainwash, makes a shitton of money.

but, all the street artists, including banksey, don't think his art is good and that he has no meaning behind it and they kind of hate him.

but, the question is, is it true or is it a banksey prank to show how lame artworld people are and how you can just make someone without talent famous. it could go either way. i took banksey seriously that he wasn't happy with what happened, but he's kind of a liar.

and, i can't really tell that mr. brainwash's art is bad. i guess i know it's bad compared to the real thing, but it's so hard for me to tell. modern art doesn't usually move me deeply, so the pleasure has to come from other places and some of his art give me some of that pleasure.

sorry for the long post.