In the spoiler for Banksy’s recently premiered Sundance film, “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” we noted how Thierry (pronounced Terry) Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash was able to gain access to the elusive street artist’s inner circle because he was cousins with Invader and was introduced by Shepard Fairey, but that doesn’t quite fully explain their camaraderie.
However, Banksy’s account of MBW getting interrogated for filming the installation of the infamous Gitmo doll at Disneyland in 2006 does shed some more light on the matter.
Apparently, MBW was held for over four hours by Mickey Mouse’s security team and possibly a FBI agent after he remained by the Rocky Mountain Railroad ride to film reaction shots. They took him to an underground detention room and after demanding to see the footage he captured which would have included closeups of Banksy’s face as he was blowing up the doll with a bike pump, the Frenchman brags how he they passed him the camera and he deleted all of the material right in front of their faces (he managed to stow away one of the memory cards with the content on it). He refused to give them any information and with the lack of any real evidence, he was eventually set free, establishing an enormous milestone of trust.
Funny side note: While MBW was getting grilled, Banksy was doing what most people do while at the Magic Kingdom: he went on the rides! Almost all of the video below as included in the new film.
Mr. Brainwash has a show coming up in New York City. Called ICONS. Opens February 14.
I just emailed you about the film… you should post that here
So if he deleted the footage how come it still exists? I dont get it? Its pretty obvious that Brainwash is a Banksy prank. An amazing prank none the less.
Nimmo: I believe MBW said he hid the real memory card in his sock or something. But since I was a little hazy I didn't want to add that to the piece. And while yes, Brainwash is a prank of Banksy's, the sad part is that MBW actually believes it.
Security had the camera on the table. When they were questioning him he said hed show them the pictures. He picked up the camera and hit delete all. The video tape was in his sock
If MBW outsmarted the FBI, well he ain't the imbecile you wanna make him out to be! This is very subversive and above everybodies heads and you still don't get it, ha ha…. You will.
The whole MBW thing is a Banksy fueled prank, trust me time will show that to us all.
Also in the film, its mentioned that Banksy goes on the Indiana Jones ride and Pirates of the Carribean, he then calls MBW whiles hes being interrogated asking him if he got the footage etc and MBW responds by saying things like oh hi, honey how are you how are the kids and only after MBW does this a few times does Banksy catch on that MBW is being held by security, so he leaves the park at that point so he doesnt get caught, so this was another reason Banksy started trusting him since he kept him from being detained as well.
@Victor Moreno Indeed. Going point. Despite his MBW's perceived stupidity, he was smart enough to talk in code and let Banksy know he was being detained.
"@Victor Moreno Indeed. Going point. Despite his MBW’s perceived stupidity, he was smart enough to talk in code and let Banksy know he was being detained."
Wow. Absolutely brilliant. Idiot.