Hundreds of people lined up in the cold on Sunday to attend the grand opening of Mr. Brainwash’s “Icons” exhibit in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Astonishingly, most of the diverse mix of hoodrats, art fags, and the cluelessly curious were ardent fans. Undeterred by his negative portrayal in the Banksy film or the naysayers online, they were more than supportive, almost delirious in their affection for the wealthy artist.
In an effort to understand this infatuation with fraud, I descended upon the crowd and mustering my most obnoxious nasal fervor—which is my voice—asked one simple question: “Is Mr. Brainwash a terrible artist or the worst artist ever?”
One part of me likes to believe there’s something I’m missing. Here is this guy who everyone knows is a Banksy prank and yet he still has devotees, but I fear the truth is a lot simpler and more depressing. In a culture where people consider: Kid Cudi hip hop, the cast of Jersey Shore A-listers, and everyone dresses the same, it only makes sense that someone like Brainwash, could be called a “street artist.” Or maybe it’s that he touches every person coming in to the gallery? The mystery continues.
Photos/videos: ANIMALNewYork
Brilliant video! I still cannot get my head around Brainwash. It is the same as music in the charts. People just love simple shit that they don't even have to think about. They have just been told that he is "cool"
i have to pause the video every so often to prevent from raging! People are on him like he is some artistic genius.
what's with the godly touching of the shoulders of the people attending his show? hah!
Oh dude you are funny. You show 3 interviews with fans and then 3 minutes of people going into the gallery. Why dont you show the video of us asking you questions regarding your motivation? Your lack of cultural awareness is made obvious by the fact you dont know anything about Europeans, he is being friendly being a host and greeting people as they come in. What other artist would be out there greeting his fans ? You dont show all the people wrapped around the block to get in, you dont talk about all the free stuff he gave away to his fans, or the fact he was signing stuff for people until 9pm to make sure everyone got a print that was supposed too.
@Dexter Morgan: My motivation is pretty spelled out: his work is rubbish. As for the free stuff, I'm glad that satisfies your criteria for what makes a good artist. Also: You've kindly added all the superfluous fluff I would never have fathomed of publishing. So cheers?
Bucky,
If his work is such garbage why don't you put some of your work out there? If it's so simple, then do it yourself. Art is subjective, what is garbage to you is amazing to others. Why are you passionate about hating on MBW? His show was awesome, it was a treat to see. An artist giving out free prints, putting on a show free of charge…..i mean come on man, what's to hate?
Now see you are putting words in my mouth. I did not say that giving away art is what makes a good artist. He is showing that he cares about the people the appreciate his work. Name another artist that would giveaway 600 plus prints ?
And just so everyone knows good ole Bucky was in the gallery later trying to get some of the free prints.[Ed note: If you outright lie, you will be corrected!]@bucky turco: amazing isnt it…. i mean do you think for a second that the BS footage you made of this event is even worth posting on your site? you did a disservice to your readers by posting that trash and you call MBW's work rubbish? ha ha ha…lol, your a clown and your animalny platform you use to voice your views no one wants to listen to is evident….
i'd like to know where your from Bucky, i mean i'm a new yorker born and raised, wsh i woudl of remembered who you was and how you looked holmes, all i hear is yor wack ass voice, playing yourself tryingto ask a corny ass trick question….. check my name out and the forum i run about MBW, maybe help yourself out and #yalife…. and watch what you say about people on open forums holmes….
chris vidal aka foodrap…..
wait a second, are you the dude i gave a beer to and then came back and gave me a beer? if so, how could you be such a cool dude but write like such a toy? if not my bad…
i went out of curiosity. meh. it's been done ad nauseum but he's not without talent… or rather, training. & you gotta hand it to the guy, he's prolific, doing what warhol did decades ago, with a more outgoing personality & getting accolades/$ for it. he knows how to work a media machine – frankly, his detractors only help fuel that machine. all that said, i'm glad that show was free, otherwise i would have felt ripped off.
Not lying, you are denying. The person that was video taping the event for MBW saw you inside.[Ed note: CLAIMS]Here is a link for everyone- http://forum.expressobeans.com/viewtopic.php?f=36…
@Dexter Morgan: You're source is some pro-MBW forum? Really? I would admit if I went in, but the truth is I got my footage and left. Disagree with me, critique, but don't spread lies. And if that's the case, show the footage, your silly rumor is quite easy to dispel.
I don't know considering it's public knowledge that this is all a prank perpetrated by banksy. whether or not the "artist" is in on it or not, i have trouble taking his fans any more seriously than people who believe wrestling is real
Its not a pro MBW forum. You did not even go look. Its about all sorts of art. You really are making my case for me LOL. The person shooting the video has no reason to make up stories, you on the other gotta keep that street cred going LOL
I live off of La Brea and have to drive by this douche bag's garbage all the time and it's terrible but what is hilarious to me is that you people draw a distinction btw this guy and Obey Giant or Banksy. They're all cornballs and the artwork is nauseating.
That Elvis was the print they were giving away?, I saw that online a decade ago, just goes to show the europeans get everything 10 years late, hip hop, movies, the list goes on
"I don’t know considering it’s public knowledge that this is all a prank perpetrated by banksy."
Exactly. Hence Brainwash. I love how "Dexter Morgan" is defending MBW's honour like a white knight (or a rather pro-troll). Be sure to continue defending when Banksy reminds everyone this was just a test. beeeeeeep
@a parent- I dont like people that make up stuff and distort the truth for their own advancement.
Wow, it's hard to tell that crowd apart from the people who turn out for Sarah Palin book signings. At least he is aptly named.
Wow… bunch of people are getting took… looks like a parody of art. That foodrap dude is an incredible waste of carbon. Mama should had an abortion fo sho… hopefully no kids come from him… of to pray.
It's too bad you don't like mr. Brainwash. He's a great artist. Has been for years. He was making stuff before people even knew about banksy. But I guess when you don't know that it's easy to think that he's not legit. Plus he's incredibly kind and obviously generous. The ICONS show is really cool and I hope it does well. We need more underground art movements to draw people together. I can't wait to see what else he does in 2010! Dont get too mad at the haters of MBW. They miss their mothers and probably get mad at all successful people. Forgive them. I'm sure Mr. Brainwash gave them a free print and they gladly took it to hang on their wall or sell.
minimum is maximum,time will tell…mr brainwash is king !
the brainwash name is spot-on. minimum is maximum? he's already got them talking in newspeak
It would be nice to see people fight for an artist that draws, paints, sculpts, films, photographs, etc- you know, things people need talent and technique for. Everyone foolishly mistakes this kind of work for real art. When it is souless production line type material.
MBW is an excellent photocopier.
Did he get his BFA in scanning?
“What’s missing,†she writes, “is art that seems made by one person out of intense personal necessity, often by hand.â€
–Roberta Smith
@prince of nigeria: are you the tool on tool academy? or just a clown in a cage? pray for forgiveness brother please pray for forgiveness… because what'cha gonna do when big poppa come for you….
This is some old ass news. Although the NYC show just opened, MBW did this same stunt in L.A. two years ago. Everyone dissed him, every tagger and paster battled him and his hired heathens on the streets. MBW hired heads of craigslist to build all his art and sculptures. At the very very very end of a long ass day, tons of fools still stood in line to go to the reception (which lasted almost a fucking week!)> MBW sold a shitload of art and pissed alot of (if not all) of the purists off. He invited the big dogg graffiti writers and wheatpasters to contribute to small sections of the exhibit in an effort to not get his face punched in for stepping all over the toes of street artists in Los Angeles.
And after all that weird shit and mixed feelings and hatred, the dude Thierry himself is actually kind of nice. He really doesn't talk shit, he's all about love (and exploiting a D.I.Y. subsculture's medium.)
Hi Bucky,
Can you not say Art Fag anymore? It used to be funny but now it just sounds homophobic. And you are clearly insulting the crowd so using Fag in this case is meant as a derogatory term. I've been gay all my life and I'm hoping before I die we can retire that word. And by the way, I'm in general agreement with the criticisms of MBW's work. It seems unoriginal.
Thanks a lot.
Well its all in the his name see, Mr brainwash see, BRAIN WASH see!!! Like Television sets, News Stations, and of course me writing this junk.
I am glad Bucky made this short. Of course Mr Brain is a terrible artist, but I will only state my opinion I can't make him stop. Whatever though, I don't really care, ART has turned against me in a way that I cant begin to respect any type of artist anymore, even myself as one. Its supposed to be about feeling and emotion, not Art Fagget Fans and Money hungry Fame seeking souls (though they come and talk and keep talking!!) I never cared for much of Mr brain washes works, (and I bet he's very nice to hang around and talk to). If you like him keep "Following" If you hate him than "Lead".
(no you cant like him and not lead at the same time, its not possible hahah)
CRITIQUE MY WORK BITCHESSSS LOL
Bluecanvas.com/dahnone
Follow the leader, follow the leader.
Oh and Mr brain wash is banksy, and banksy is shepard Fairy, and Obey is a group of Politicians in disguise to raise more money for the project they've panned to turn everyone into robot monkeys pushing buttons and fiddling keys.
WHAHAHAHAHHWHAHAHAH.
(something suspicious going on)
hmm
oh well.
Thierry is a great artsist,i had been following him for years and he is a true and sincere artist,a real giver
what? MBW has a team of people to make whatever creativity is in his head? he doesn't make every piece by hand. that's crazy! thank god we have people dolce and gabanna, and louis vitton, and chanel, who made every piece they ever sold by hand! whew. a team of people. ha. who does this guy think he is? in order to be a real artist, you have to do everything by yourself and then when other people are successful you have to complain. obviously he hasn't read the book on how to be a miserable person. love? really? love? i wish he was all about hate and violence. now that would really make the world a better place! thanks a lot MBW for making good art and giving people jobs they probably love and spreading love. what a pain.
"a real giver"
its sounds like you've been taking it for years, too
Bad news people,I’ve just heard that Dexter (Michel C.Hall) has been dignosed with cancer but is nothing big the doctors think it’s treateble.
KID CUDI IS HIP HOP
I like prankster as much as I like an artist, and thats how I see this guy…a jokester and prankster. Lighten up guys, art is mostly a joke anyway
stavros pretty much nailed it when he said "Lighten up guys, art is mostly a joke anyway"
On the surface all art is very subjective and many of the arguments made against MBW can be made about most Street artist. Street artist are for the most part all products of the Warhol assembly line approach. In my opinion each artist should be judged on their own merits, not things like who is copying who, or who paid dues. The goal of an artist is to speak to an audience and connect. And if MBW connects to his audience I say let him be. Because if he is a fraud, then most if not all artists are frauds too.
I saw Exit Through the Gift Shop yesterday and that is what I took away from it.
Check out my review
http://blog.thenewpop.com/2010/05/15/exit-through…
I also posted this at http://www.urbanartcore.eu/mr-brainwash-terrible-… fyi but here are my thoughts:
I don’t think that is the point at all. It’s not a MBW vs the real underground street artists. The whole movie was about art’s perception. MBW learned his “craft” by watching how the best in the business did it. Then he optimized (by hiring assistants) and applied that same formula commercially. People ate his shit up.
Why would people pay for this commercialized art?
I think that people still liked it because it still provided commentary for the societal, intellectual, and artistic problems that are inherent to the human condition. The individual pieces weren’t good but the way and context in which they were shown is where they derived their meaning. It’s like the Alanis Morissette song “Ironic”. Everything she talks about isn’t ironic, they are unfortunate circumstances. Yet the song as a whole is ironic because it is called “Ironic” and there is nothing ironic in it. This same sort of situation applies to MBW. His work by itself isn’t valuable but when put in context it is actually quite provocative.
Then this leads to what Banksy said at the end of "Exit through the Gift Shop". If someone with no previous artistic experience can come into the art world and succeed, both commercially and artisticly (by commenting on the human condition), then what is the point? Why put in all this time and effort when someone can just stumble upon a solution? It completely invalidates all the time that Banksy, Shepard, and every other artist has previously done. Which leads us back to the point of the entire film: what is the point of art and what do we think it is?
Hi ANIMAL,
Because you have taken the liberty to characterize us, the fans of MBW, let me do the same – take the liberty to say how I think you have characterized yourself by what you have posted (text and video), in relation to what I have seen from MBW (including in your video).
Mr. Brainwash is: kind, generous, talented, free, famous, rich, global, dreamer
You are: mean, malicious, untalented, frustrated, utterly unknown, poor, provincial, hater
- Deli
Hi ANIMAL,
Because you have taken the liberty to characterize us, the fans of MBW, let me do the same – take the liberty to say how I think you have characterized yourself by what you have posted (text and video), in relation to what I have seen from MBW (including in your video).
Mr. Brainwash is: kind, generous, talented, free, famous, rich, global, dreamer
You are: mean, malicious, untalented, frustrated, utterly unknown, poor, provincial, hater.
- Deli, from Europe, lives in NY
Just so everyone knows on here. If you compare a Banksy limited edition prints signature and the signaure of a Mr. Brainwash the letters are exactly the same. The "B" and "S" and "A" look like they were written by the same people. Check it out and see for your selves.
Banksy you created a monster
His work is terrible, he is like Warhol without the message. He is the factory owner of the art world that pumps out trashy pop art garbage.
But that is no reason to smear him as a person. He seems like a passionate and friendly man, just a bad artist who lives off the adoration of conforming non-conformists.
What's worse than Brainwash art? People who have to trash talk it it online.
And sure, I don't think most of his art is very good. But I have to say, there are far far worse artists out there, especially 'grafitti/stree artists.) And I know it's not much but at least he's a nice guy. And at least he's not some pseudo intellectual, that's part of his and his arts charm really.
Don't knock the hustle. We all have to eat. I do not like his work but he did it! Respect.
What's worse than Brainwash art? Actually giving it the time of day. Which, unfortunately, i'm doing right now. Damnit.