The Importance of Taking Breaks During Exam Period — Banksy exhibition
It’s exam period again, and for many of us, it feels like spending our entire day learning. My last exam season was related to lots of pressure and bare free time. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and anxiety of it all. However, I learned that taking breaks is crucial for me to maintain my mental and physical health.
Inspired by two Medium posts by Mila and Cybelle, I decided to take a learning break and attend Capsule Gallery in Lissabon. My aim with this blog post is not only to share my own personal insights and reflections but also to inspire you to take a break as well :) The exhibition consists of more than 100 artworks through a range of mediums like graffiti, canvases, and murals of the street artist Banksy.
“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing” — Banksy
Despite his immense popularity and influence, Banksy has faced criticism for the commercialization of his art and the way in which it has been co-opted by the art world.
He mainly addressed topics such as nonconformism, anti-establishment, pacifism, and anti-capitalism. The artwork “No Future” caught my attention, as it triggered a dose of irony in me since balloons are more often a cause of joy for children, not hopelessness.
In general, the purpose of his art is not to make money. He rather aims to challenge the status quo and raise awareness about social and political issues. He often expressed frustration with the way in which his art has been commodified and sold for profit. As one of his most famous works should be sold, the gavel came down and the sale was final, the painting began to self-destruct, shredding itself through a hidden mechanism built into the frame. If you want to see the remarkable moment when Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon” painting self-destructed during a Sotheby’s auction, check out the video below.
One piece reminded me of our class project and the aim of reducing waste in Bairro Alto. Banksy’s “Show Me the Monet” is addressing the issue of consumerism and its impact on the environment. The painting challenges us to consider the ways in which our modern society prioritizes consumption and materialism over the preservation of the natural world.
The shopping cart and traffic cone in the painting represent the excess and waste that are produced by our culture of consumerism. In my opinion, Banksy tries to encourage us to reflect on our own habits and to consider the ways in which we can reduce our impact on the environment. I mainly like that people get inspired and provoked by his artworks and discuss topics such as art, politics, and society.
💡 — What do you think about Banksy and his controversial expression through graffiti?
