More than 120 copies of Banksy’s works can be discovered from Thursday at the Paris-Saxon Art Center (VS). A permanent exhibition, “The World of Banksy” aims to introduce the world of the world’s best-known anonymous British street art artist.
“The World of Banksy” already exists in similar forms in Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Krakow and New York. But “that of Saxon is the second largest after New York”, clarified Hazis Vardar, at the origin of the development of this exhibition, during the press conference on Tuesday. “Most of the artist’s works have disappeared. All that remains are photos. In ‘The World of Banksy’, I reconstruct them with great fidelity, putting them back in their context of creation,” he adds. .
In this way, “we manage to understand in which crisis situations they were created”, further notes Hazis Vardar who says he is “at heart to highlight the works of the artist and his political commitment”.
>> Listen to the interview with Hazis Vardar, exhibition director and Banksy specialist:
A spotlight on the region
The exhibition is taking place in the former Saxon Casino, because Hazis Vardar’s brother, the director Alil Vardar, took over the site this summer and wants to turn it into a cultural center. “This choice defies all logic,” recognizes Hazis Vardar, who nevertheless sees in it “the possibility of putting a spotlight on the region and a long-term investment.” He also believes that the casino “lends itself really well to the project”.
Asked about the question of rights, Hazis Vardar notes that the exhibition was not formally authorized by the artist, but was not prohibited either. The curator of the exhibition recalls that Banksy himself encouraged copies of his work for purposes of “entertainment, academic research or activism. If the artist agrees and I agree, I I don’t see what the problem is,” he said.
Exhibitions dedicated to Banksy have multiplied in recent years, but the identity of the British artist is not known. Some say it’s Jamie Hewlett, frontman of the music group Gorillaz. Others claim that it is Robert Del Naja, one of the singers of the group Massive Attack, which he has denied. A third track evokes the graffiti artist Robin Gunningham. All three are from Bristol.
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“The World of Banksy. The immersive experience”, permanent exhibition to be seen at the Paris-Saxon Art Center, former Saxon Casino, (VS) from October 10, 2024.
