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| A view of the entrance to the exhibition "The Art of Banksy: Without Limits" at the Seouliteum in Seongdong District, Seoul / Courtesy of Art of Banksy |
By Park Han-sol
Oftentimes, for gallery visitors, the entrance to an exhibition remains the least memorable part of the event, as they are there precisely to see what lies behind it. But "The Art of Banksy: Without Limits" at the Seouliteum in eastern Seoul's Seongdong District, is somewhat different as the whole viewing experience begins right when one enters into a cartoonish black-and-white security room.
The room is, in fact, a reproduction of the actual entrance to the dystopian theme park "Dismaland" ― a portmanteau of "dismal" and "Disneyland" ― that Banksy brought to life in collaboration with other artists in summer 2015 at a disused facility in England.
From the crashed Cinderella's pumpkin coach to the miniature refugee boat floating in a pool in place of the Little Mermaid, the park replaced the Disney fantasy with works representing the themes of economic inequality, anti-consumerism, political corruption and war. Although this "family theme park unsuitable for children" closed just five weeks after its opening day, part of the facility has been reborn in Seoul for the grand showcase of the artist's works.
Since its 2016 debut in Istanbul, the touring exhibition "The Art of Banksy" has generated buzz in 11 major cities worldwide, including Amsterdam, Melbourne and Vienna. This month, Seoul has stepped up as its first host in Asia.
More than 150 original and recreated pieces of Banksy's work ― murals, prints, sculptures and installations ― are presented both in physical form and through video projection mapping.
Some of the most iconic pieces on display include "Girl with Balloon," which made headlines in 2018 as it was self-shredded just moments after it was auctioned off for more than 1 million euros at Sotheby's in London as part of the artist's stunt, and "Game Changer," a nod to frontline health workers amid the surge in COVID-19 infections.
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| "Napalm" (2004), also known as "Can't Beat That Feeling," by Banksy / Courtesy of Art of Banksy |
The U.K urban artist and activist is best known for remaining anonymous while refusing to shy away from depicting often anti-establishment, politically charged slogans in his pieces.
Disturbing, controversial subjects ― such as the transformation of Christmas holiday into the peak of modern consumerism ("Christ with Shopping Bags") as well as the U.K.'s House of Commons filled with chimpanzee-politicians ("Devolved Parliament") ― have appeared throughout the cities and on his canvas in a poetically ironic and humorous way.
Although Banksy has ventured from street graffiti to paintings, installations and even film over several decades, a majority of his works still remain unfamiliar to Koreans. Thus, the Seoul exhibition aims to offer a rare opportunity to witness in one place a large collection of his art pieces with their trademark tongue-in-cheek statements.
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| The exhibition's curator Guillermo S. Quintana speaks during a press preview, while wearing a mask with the phrase "An San is My Hero" written on it. He presents different messages on his mask for each exhibition and never reveals his face during the event, claiming that he is "just a messenger." Courtesy of Art of Banksy |
"We tried to present to people artworks and installations they don't know that are from Banksy," curator Guillermo S. Quintana said at the gallery, noting that the event is a "tribute to a genius man."
This curatorial decision led the organizer to exhibit various props directly from or inspired by the "Dismaland" project ― the original "Dismal Dollar," a balloon with the phrase "I am an Imbecile," the refugee boat installation and a digital projection of dilapidated Cinderella Castle on fire.
Other highlights of the event include "Exit Through the Gift Shop," a 2010 documentary directed by Banksy himself, and the "Infinity Room," an immersive screening room with reflective walls that is presented in Seoul for the first time.
"I really don't care how people go inside the exhibition. Come like a kid who wants to learn something. The important thing is how they come out of it, because we need to remember that we are Banksy. All of us, we are Banksy," he said.
The exhibition runs through Feb. 6 at the Seouliteum.
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| Installation view of "The Art of Banksy: Without Limits" / Courtesy of Art of Banksy |
