What Happens When You Take Street Art Out of the Street?
"Art is not a crime," posted Bonifacio Global City on their social media pages back in April. The post hinted at a Banksy exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) and immediately earned the ire of the people of the internet. Many have pointed out the irony of displaying Banksy's anti-elite, anti-establishment art in a museum located in a financial business district. After all, can you really put street art out of the street?
Defining Street Art
An often-cited definition of street art is that of Nicholas Alden Riggle in an essay titled "Street Art: The Transfiguration of the Commonplaces" (2010, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism). He argued: "An artwork is street art if, and only if, its material use of the street is internal to its meaning." Riggle further emphasizes the implication of this definition, wherein street art is "likely to be, among other things, illegal, anonymous, ephemeral, highly creative, and attractive."
'Banksy Universe | Manila 2024' Exhibit at The M
Carmen Cowick, in "Preserving Street Art: Uncovering the Challenges and Obstacles" (2015, Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America), further defined street art by comparing it to graffiti, which—according to him—"often has associations with gangs and urban decay, and it usually has no message, other than territorial." While street art and graffiti share similar elements, including stylized works and text, anonymity, illegality, and the use of adaptable tools like stencils and spray paint, the former exudes "pronounced bias." It has the purpose of "[advancing] the cause of an idea" through the form of a direct and simple message.
It is also for its ephemerality (plus the fact that it isn't fully documented) that tracing the precise birth of street art is difficult. Cowick, however, pointed out that the 1960s—a decade of rebellion—saw the significance of street art in pushing political and social messages.
By the 1970s, photographer Martha Cooper started documenting the New York street art scene, largely contributing to the art's development. Interestingly, the 1980s saw street and graffiti art finding their way into art galleries and museums. We know the names Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat from this decade.
By the 1990s, one name emerged: Banksy, an England-based street artist and political activist.
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Who is Banksy?
Well, no one really knows.
Banksy, the elusive street artist whose works have captivated the world, continues to intrigue and inspire. Known for his provocative and often politically charged pieces, Banksy's identity remains one of the art world's best-kept secrets. Despite numerous attempts to unmask him, the artist has managed to keep his true identity hidden, adding to the mystique that surrounds his work.
The artist's anonymity has been a subject of endless speculation. A recently unearthed 2003 interview with the BBC revealed Banksy's first name as "Robbie," adding another layer to the mystery. Various names, including Robin Gunningham and Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, have been suggested over the years, but none have been definitively confirmed. Steve Lazarides, an early associate of Banksy, has hinted at the artist's identity but has never fully disclosed it, maintaining the enigma that surrounds Banksy.
Banksy’s art is also found in several parts of the world—from his hometown in Bristol, to parts of London, New York, Los Angeles, and even in war-torn Ukraine. It’s hard to see all of the artist’s art, unless you’re a world traveler, especially because most of them are on the street instead of a canvas, .
"Not many of us get the chance to do that. And not many of us get the chance to see an exhibition like this, to actually understand the world of Banksy and his art, contextualized throughout the different stages of his career," said Bambina Olivares, The M’s Special Exhibitions and Projects Consultant, during a press preview of Banksy Universe | Manila 2024.
She explained that this is one of the reasons why The M staged an exhibition of Banksy’s works.
"We thought it would be a great show to bring to the Philippines to be able to share the universality of his themes and the issues that he brings up with the Filipino audience,” Olivares added.
A Banksy "Retrospective" in the Museum
The M has emphasized that the exhibit features reproductions of Banksy’s street art and murals, which are staged according to the year/s and locations they’re found. This, more or less, speculates on the elusive artist’s life and follows his street art journey from his hometown and into the world. There are also original prints authenticated by Pest Control, the legal guardian of Banksy’s art. The prints were borrowed from private collectors through the help of Banksy Universe Collective—a foreign group of Banksy enthusiasts and collectors.
The original pieces include framed numbered prints, memorabilia from Banksy's anti-Disneyland theme park Dismaland, and The Walled Off Hotel. Reproduced murals of famous pieces like "Kissing Coppers" and "Love is in the Bin" are also on display. The exhibit aims to provide an immersive experience, with the sounds of spray cans and automated lights creating a sense of discovery for visitors.
"I want to point out that the irony of Banksy's work being gathered together and shown in a museum is not completely lost in us. We do understand that, as an institution, we also represent the status quo that Banksy rails against in his art. But, you know, we also have to deal with the practicalities. Where else could you show something like this? It's also a tribute to Banksy, how he has elevated graffiti and maybe a form of vandalism into art. One of the perfect settings for art is a museum. It's not out of taking advantage of his art and just appropriating it for our audiences. But we do it with respect and with awareness," Olivares explained to the press, given the flak the show has received before it even opened.
The M points out in a press statement that "Banksy Universe | Manila 2024, like many such exhibitions in museums around the world, is not authorized or endorsed by Banksy." This is also emphasized in Pest Control's website: "Banksy is not involved or associated with any of them.
Banksy Universe Collective, a group of Banksy enthusiasts and collectors, has also stated that their goal is to bring Banksy's art to a broader audience. They partnered with The M due to security and logistical concerns about hosting the exhibit outdoors. In addition, they also formed a partnership with Childhope Philippines, a non-government organization that protects and educates children in street situations. All sales from the gift shop go to Childhope Philippines, according to The M.
Taking Street Art Out of the Street
Riggle, in his essay, emphasized two requirements of street art: materiality, wherein the work employs the street as an artistic resource, and immateriality, wherein the use of the street must be integral to the meaning of the work.
Banksy's street art is meant to be out in the street, which is integral to the meaning of his works. The rubbles in Ukraine and Gaza, for example, are part of the context of his murals. His creations in New York actively dialogue with the urbanities of that state. Illegally painting his commentaries about the Queen on the streets of London are part of the statement.
"Street art is deeply antithetical to the art world. That is, for each part of the art world, street art resists to some appreciable extent playing a role in it. Consider a museum. There could be an exhibition of street art only at great cost to the significance of the works exhibited. By pulling them from the streets, the curator eliminates their material use of the street, thereby destroying their meaning and status as street art," Riggle argued.
What, then, should we make of Banksy Universe | Manila 2024 at The M?
Sure, we lose the very essence of Banksy’s street art, which is replicated within the four corners of an indoor wall in an air-conditioned room in a venue with an entrance fee. On the other hand, there’s really no way to experience his art in its spatial context unless you can travel to every location (or even time travel to every ephemeral piece).
So, you can either browse through Banksy’s works through the Internet or pay P550 at The M to check out Banksy Universe | Manila 2024.
Banksy Universe | Manila 2024 runs until November 20 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is open from Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An all-access day pass costs P550 with 50% discount for students and 20% discount for seniors and PWDs.
