Initially, my trip to the Banksy Museum was not the most enjoyable. The weather was terrible; it was raining, windy, and cold. The bus to the city took very long with traffic, but nevertheless, I arrived and purchased my ticket. Walking into the museum, I felt surprised, as the setting was very dark and unlike any other museum I have ever been to. As I have previously mentioned, I am not a huge fan of art, however the simplicity and supposed mystery underlying Banksy’s works is a factor I definitely found enticing when walking around the building.

For one, I noticed that a majority of the pieces contained rats as the objects of focus. Accounting for Banksy’s protesting nature, I learned that the purpose behind depicting these figures is to symbolize the rebels of society, which feel neglected by the general public, therefore creating political commentaries on life. According to a comment on the regarded work, Banksy’s art critiques consumerism, political authority, terrorism, and the status of art and its display. From the pieces I viewed, I can confirm that these messages are certainly depicted within the displayed artwork.

“The Rolling Stone May Gather No Moss, But it Can Start an Avalanche” (2005)

It is said that to create the presented piece, Banksy collaborated with Simon Munnery, an English comedian, who provided the titular phrase. This piece can certainly be interpreted through a variety of different perspectives, however to me, it meant that although a goal may often take long to reach, the end result is always worth the struggle and effort. To elaborate, I believe Banksy attempts to communicate that although certain actions may not elicit immediately obvious results, their long-term impacts can still be prevalent, therefore even if a rolling stone does not have the immediate power to gather moss, resembling growth, improvement, and success, it still has the capability to leave lasting implications by initiating an ultimate avalanche, represented by long-term success and accomplishment. This also coincides with the idea of a chain reaction (domino effect), as every action in life leads to an essential ending.

Grannies (2006), Los Angeles

One thing I appreciated within the Banksy Museum is that all of the art was relatable and simple to understand, as opposed to overrated works that often communicate no message and seem soulless. Every framed composition was able to connect with me in some sort of way, for it was easy to detect the context behind each developed scene. In the painting depicting two grandmas knitting in chairs across from each other, the phrases on the clothing items reflect the passing of time, which is a common enemy to all humans alike. The elderly ladies reflect on their rebellious youth and reminisce over their childhoods, sharing a bittersweet moment that I can also relate to at an age where I am experiencing numerous transitional moments in life, leaving my own youth behind as I enter the world of adulthood.

Game Changer (2020), Southampton

Due to the relatively recent essence of this artwork, it can feel substantially touching, as it reflects the relatable COVID pandemic, which internationally impacted humanity to a certain extent. After learning that this piece was donated by Banksy to the Southampton General Hospital, I felt a deeper respect for this artist because this small act reveals the truth and kindness behind Banksy’s motivations, which unlike numerous artists, are not driven by superficial monetary values. Alongside of this contribution, Banksy wrote a note thanking the health professionals and hoping that this gift brightens the medical space. In this piece, the child chooses to play with a nurse rather than the stereotypically chosen superhero dolls, depicting the nurse in a cape, thus conveying the message that “not all superheroes wear capes” and in a critical time like this deadly wave, medical workers are the true heroes, saving the world through their dedicated efforts, which must be acknowledged and appreciated.

Overall, this museum was definitely a very unique encounter and I definitely enjoyed it more than the formerly visited MoMA, although I was left pondering many questions, predominantly remaining skeptical of how Banksy could possibly be identified as an anonymous figure when he/she spent so much time creating art in public areas and was even noted to partner with other individuals. Nonetheless, my favorite aspect of this museum was the integrating experience it provided, immersing the audience within a completely divergent world, specific to Banksy’s universe. Each creation was unique with its own offering of talent, beauty, hidden significance, and occasional humor. Towards the end of my journey, I came across a quote stating, “Copyright is for losers”. This was able to summarize Banksy’s mission within one statement because it portrays his/her desire to spread the accessibility of art to all demographics alike, protesting against capitalism in this exact manner. Therefore, the public is morally and legally free to reproduce and access any works that they wish to.