Craft your art
Last week we talked about monkey business, this week I’m going to share my thoughts about the world’s most famous banana!
When I arrived in London in 2005 I properly discovered street art. Where I had lived before, the street art was more like badly designed graffiti and clearly not on a par with the exquisite style of street art that London has to offer.
Who is a better example of this phenomenon than Banksy?
Have you heard of Banksy? Even if you haven’t, I am sure you have seen some of their work. If you haven’t this letter has a couple of pieces in it for you to peruse.
Back in the day it was Banksy mania! People craved their art. In all the street markets across London people sold reproductions of their art and style. Books of all sorts were published about Banksy’s work.
Obviously painting the streets was not exactly to everyone’s taste. Banksy doesn’t ask permission before painting on strangers’ homes and garages, turning previously nondescript places into massive tourist attractions.
As Banksy kept doing it, at night, in total anonymity, they kept on creating a big mystery around their character (a bit like Daft Punk).
The creation of an alter ego is a powerful technique to create a paradigm shift. Stay tuned, I’ll discuss it soon with you.
Style, idea, location, mystery…all the ingredients combined to produce a global success….but this is exactly what Banksy did not want and what they were actually condemning in their wall paintings.
Banksy a secret and unknown artist who, through their paintings, was giving the finger to the establishment, the status quo, money, the elite…received an official apology from the local authority in London when an iconic painting was removed
Estimated at $300k in 2005, it is hilarious to think that instead of a villain all of sudden Banksy became legit and acclaimed.
Fast forward to May 2021, I received a Ticketmaster invitation for an exhibition on Banksy that reads:
“Previously seen by over 750,000 people in Melbourne, Tel Aviv, Auckland, Toronto, Miami, Gothenburg and Sydney, The Art Of Banksy is the new simply-can’t-miss exhibition coming to London, showcasing one of the world’s most provocative and important living artists, providing a welcome reminder of the explosive impact of Banksy’s works. The exhibition of more than 70 works of art worth over £30 million will be housed in a vast, 12,000-square-foot warehouse space in the heart of Covent Garden and will allow for a fully immersive and COVID-secure experience.”
£30 million is incredible and definitely partly down to the number of the self-appointed art critics who all collude today to raise the price of Banksy’s work, but street art….in a gallery, isn’t it ironic?
Banksy is probably laughing ….
Well, my friend, the message is clear, craft your (badass) art! Again and again! In silent, in secret, at night, hone, work, hustle, train, mastermind, be coached, carve out this X factor… focus on your painting, design, writing, voice, songs, speech, pitch, etc.
Work hard to make it better, louder, stronger, sharper, more colourful, more impactful, more precise. Don’t listen to the naysayers who push you out of your way.
Stay true to yourself and continue crafting.
Today Banksy’s net worth is estimated at $50m. They are probably laughing, not homeless in the street!
QUESTIONS…
How can you sustain your grit and desire to offer your output to the world?