Banksy exhibit lands in Southeast Asia for first time with Bangkok show
Bangkok, Oct 26 (EFE).- The work of graffiti superstar Banksy is being showcased in a Bangkok exhibit that has brought the politically charged work to Southeast Asia for the first time.
The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, an immersive show of over 150 works at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Bangkok opened its doors amid much anticipation on Wednesday.
The touring exhibition that takes visitors on a journey of the iconic artist’s creative process will be open to the public until December 31.
Among the pieces that make up the collection, acquired over the last seven years by founder of the show Turk Kemal Gurkaynak, are some quintessential works like “Girl with Balloon” or “Flower Thrower”, as well more recent creations tackling current global issues such as the migration crisis.
Banksy “is very intelligent, I love his brain and the way he thinks to deal with the problems and challenges we face every day,” Gurkaynak told Efe.
Through different installations, visitors can delve into the main issues raised by the anonymous graffiti artist, who often broaches complex debates around globalization, consumerism, the climate emergency and the horrors of war.
The so-called “infinite room”, a large mirrored space that offers a multisensory journey to visitors through the artistic career of the British artist.
“He takes his work to a level of today’s issues, but in an ironic way also at the same time with different approaches, he’s trying to show people how everything is corrupted,” Yasemin Demren, one of the exhibition’s curators, told Efe.
The exhibition also dedicates a special space to the Louise Michel Foundation, a vessel financed by Banksy that offers assistance and rescue services to refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea on their journey to flee their countries devastated by war, famine and social instability.
Banksy “started making money out of his art because he became famous and he is using money” to support the causes that he defends “and those are the most important messages” of his work, the curator summed up. EFE
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