AUTHOR: Erika Haxton
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Nikki Pangbourne Jara
COPY EDITOR: Eishvinder Gill
Stepping into the world of Banksy is like stepping into a space where street art meets classic art. The exhibit’s dark rustic appeal paired with the bright, luminous art creates an out-of-body experience. The limited-time Bansky art exhibit in Toronto surpasses others, as it dares to capture the street aesthetic while keeping the integrity of a classic art exhibit.
The exhibit’s overall colour palette was dominated by black and white, and the layout of the exhibit was minimal, enhancing the richness of the artwork. Each piece was vibrant with strategically placed lighting, embracing the contrasts between the dark setting and the bright artwork. This released typical art exhibit conventions and instead brought visitors to the streets and gave the performance of a lifetime.
As Banksy’s art was visually enjoyable, there was a texture to his work; each piece is layered with meaning as it reflects on societal issues like climate change, war, and even the capital’s greed for artwork. The exhibit included an image of one of Banksy’s most devious stunts with one of his famous paintings. Girl with Balloon and its shredding in 2018. It was sold at an auction and then was arranged for self-destruction before the buyer could take it. This was revolutionary and fought back against the hunger of the rich for artwork.
The Bansky art exhibit is memorable, passionate, and daring; it is beyond anything seen before and provides a sense of hope for our future and the modernization of the historical art exhibit. It dares to be different and immerses you in the mind of Bansky, making you never want to leave.