Page 60 - Arts Management Magazine Iss 1

BANKSY
THIS IS BANKSY - AMSTERDAM

“One hundred thousand
people across the world
could all say they’re
Banksy.”

Banksy is an England based graffiti artist,
political activist and film director of un-
verified identity, and remains one of the
art world’s biggest mysteries. His satirical
street art and subversive epigrams com-
bine dark humour with graffiti and his
works of political and social commentary
have been featured on streets, walls, and
bridges of cities throughout the world.

AMM Publisher Michael Reiss spoke with “I think it’s shameful…It would be like someone stealing
long time Banksy confidant, and Curator from St. Paul’s Cathedral.”
of the This is Banksy exhibit in Amsterdam,
Steve Lazarides.
Michael Reiss: Why is Banksy an import-
ant artist?
Steve Lazarides: Banksy made art rele-
vant again.

MR: How how did you first meet Banksy?
SL: I knew all of the old cool Bristol
crowd, cause I kind of grew up with
him. I heard there was this artist known
as Banksy, so I called a couple of people
I knew in Bristol and the meeting was
made, and I landed up being his pho-
tographer. I’d get text messages to go to
somewhere, or document a project. And
that's pretty much how the story started.

MR: Tell me about his anonymity?
SL: I think everyone thinks it was this
whole marketing ploy. Originally, it was
purely and utterly self-preservation, be-
cause the authorities in Bristol had quite

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