BANKSY, COUNTRYSIDE CCTV, OIL ON CANVAS, 2006
Countryside CCTV shows a post of CCTV surveillance cameras within a bucolic landscape copied from historic oil painting. The contrast between the element of modern technology and the classical aura of the background creates an exciting tension that is at the heart of Banksy’s tongue-in-cheek style.
The work belongs to Banksy’s widely celebrated series, the 'Crude Oils'. In these hijacked traditional oil paintings, the artist inserts his iconic stencil figures into Old Masters paintings. In doing so, he tackles relevant issues and formulates sharp social commentary through subversive humour. They’re both a reference to ideas of the “readymade” and artists like Marcel Duchamp, as well as to ideas of Pop Art around mass production and appropriation. Another example of such a painting is Guantanamo Bay.
He has successfully placed these artworks into exhibitions of respected museums and art galleries around the world, including The Louvre, The Tate, The British Museum and New York's Museum of Modern Art.
ABOUT BANKSY
Banksy is undoubtedly the world’s most sought-after and talked about street artist, his work represents his political and social commentary on the world, and has appeared on city walls throughout it – from London to New York, from Jamaica to the Gaza Strip.
Banksy is not only known for his high profile murals, he has been releasing limited edition prints for many years, produced in various formats, including signed and unsigned works, as well as artist proofs and gift prints. However, only a very select number of people know exactly what the elusive street artist creates and how many he releases. Some editions, for example, are only made available to VIPs, collectors and friends of Banksy’s who are part of the much-coveted inner circle. This has only made the demand for his limited edition silkscreen prints and artists proofs in circulation, grow in popularity year on year. Learn more about street artist Banksy.
