MR. BRAINWASH ICONS EXTENDED
Tens of thousands of people have already witnessed ICONS. The brainchild of L.A. street artist and phenomenon Mr. Brainwash’s opened on Valentine’s Day in New York’s Meatpacking District. Because the crowds continue to pack the 15,000 square foot exhibit, MBW has decided to extend ICONS through the end of April. The venue is jam-packed with original art and bigger than life installations – like a giant boombox, a Yellow cab, Michelin Man, and so much more that only Mr. Brainwash can pull off. All of the canvases, prints and broken record pieces are new – created after his mega-successful Life is Beautiful exhibition in Los Angeles in 2008.
MBW is also the man behind the camera for Banksy’s new movie, “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” The film is ten years in the making and premiered Sunday,January 24, at The Sundance Film Festival. The unannounced feature was all the buzz in Park City, Utah. “Exit Through the Gift Shop” tells the story of Mr. Brainwash’s move from France to the U.S. and his fascination with the growing street art movement. Along the way, he filmed some of the industry’s biggest names – Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Faile Mr. A, Space Invaders and more. Then he met and befriended Banksy becoming the only man to capture him in action on video. But in this highly anticipated movie, Banksy turned the camera back on MBW. Banksy has said, “It’s the story of how one man set out to film the un-filmable. And failed.” Banksy’s publicist told The Guardian, “It’s a film about a man who tried to make a film about me. Everything in it is true, especially the bits where we all lie.” Sundance Festival Director John Cooper said the story was so bizarre that he questioned whether it could be real. ”‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ is one of those films that comes along once in a great while, a warped hybrid of reality and self-induced fiction while at the same time a totally entertaining experience,” he added.
In addition to his photography credit for “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” and his ICONS show in NYC, Mr. Brainwash will also be doing the limited edition prints and posters for the 2nd Annual Carmel Art & Film Festival in October. To read our feature article on Mr. Brainwash, click here.
nice. i love banksy since i saw his painting for the first time on the street in london.
Just finished watching “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Haven’t the wealthy made “us” believe that a piece of canvas with oil was worth millions? Really? I love Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse – I’ve waited in many long lines to view their work, buy their books and reproductions. But millions? Fiat! Alchemy!
This documentary should stand as a great example of what it takes to achieve success – building relationships and connecting to a community of like minded people – in this case “graffiti artists” and a disenfranchised public.
Both Fairie and Banksy were hesitant to include MBW on their mailing lists BUT they nonetheless did. Why? Simply because he had built a relationship with them. That’s the reason they made their personal resources available to him as well. It’s the big thing on internet how-to’s – “building relationships.” It takes time.
MBW is passionate and authentic, the very things “we” are instructed to possess in order to achieve “real” success, whether it be in art, business, blogging or our personal relationships.
As an artist I understand the reproductive quality of his work, but ironically life is reproductive – with a spin. All great artists (painters, sculptors, musicians, etc) have built upon those who came before them. Fairie and Banksy should be flattered. Instead, they seem to be concerned that he hadn’t “paid his dues.” Really? Upon those scaffolds? Respecting their privacy.
Oh how the avant garde’s success can morph into the very “gate-keeper” he/she originally abhorred.
Of course the proverbial question, “what is art?” and “who should decide?” continues to allude even graffiti artists.
I say, “Go forth MBW and multiply!” Then, let the public/market decide what “they” like.