Exit Through The Gift Shop (review)
I recently watched “Exit Through The Gift Shop” a documentary about the emergence of street art. Well at least I thought it was about the emergence of street art. Simply put, this is a must see documentary regardless of subject. At times it feels like it is a movie with a well thought out storyline, and more plot twist then an episode of Law and Order. I don’t want to go into to much detail, because if you don’t know the story of the artists involved it will ruin your experience with the film. Then again we all knew how Apollo 13 was going to end and many enjoyed watching that.
Street art is a fairly new style of art. We are not talking straight up graffiti art here. Most of the time these artist have put a lot of thought, time, and planning into what they are doing. I think that street art is a modern form of installation art. I am a big fan of installation art, and have done a few pieces my self. In fact, when I found out the artist Banksy was in this documentary I was very excited to see it. Banksy created, what I feel, is the best installation piece that I have ever seen. He created it for his 2006 Barely Legal exhibition.
Elephant in the Room, 2006
I have a lot of respect for Banksy’s work, and he has pulled of some brilliant “stunts”, or as I refer to them as “marketing” attempts. Some say he sold out, and this is B.S., the guy is just wanting to make a living at what he loves.
The Documentary does a fantastic job at showing what street art is about. It takes you through a journey that travels along with some of the grandfathers of the movement. You first meet the artist known as Space Invader, and quickly realize that these artist are not trying to destroy public property. They are really just wanting to enhance it, or open your eyes to things you have not seen before. Are these artist really destroying, or are they adding to to the beauty of what’s around? With that said the documentary dose take on the the fact that it is very illegal to create such works. They don’t dwell on it, but they do let the viewer make the final decision.
The documentary takes a slow metamorphosis throughout the duration from street art, to a study of the filmmaker himself. Again, if you don’t know the story of the individuals involved, I don’t want to take away from your experience. I will say that the documentary is playing into what I am trying to do with this blog. Creativity is all around us, and we all have the opportunity to be creative. Remember that you don’t have to paint to use your imagination. I hear the same thing when people see a Jackson Pollock for the first time: “I could do that!” Being able to do it is not the point. The point is that he was creative enough to think of it. All of us have this within ourselves, but it is not just with art. The most creative thinkers I have ever met have been business owners, and entrepreneurs. Creativity, and art is not just made by a person with a brush in their hands.
All and all this is a excellent documentary/movie, and a well told story. I really recommend watching it. If anything it will help you understand what street art is really about. Maybe it will allow you to see the things around you in a new way. I’m not suggesting that you go out and start vandalizing public property, but I am suggesting to open your eyes, and look through life using your imagination. I don’t think that necessity is the mother of all invention, I think imagination is.
Till the next time live life artfully,
The English Butcher
Conversation topic: Is street art really art, or is it destruction of public property?
