Exit Through the Gift Shop

Release Year: 2010

Director: Banksy

Review: Banksy is the most notorious artist in the street art world.  Part of his mystique is that almost nothing is known about him. One of the most intriguing aspects to him and his work is his underground art mentality. When he puts out his artwork it is usually controversial and almost always illegal. It gives him an edge, makes him unique, and it doesn’t hurt that he is a fantastically original and creative artist. Recently street art has been coming into the mainstream, with artist’s work being sold for millions at auction, and their graffiti being preserved rather than scrubbed off. Shepard Fairey became a household name when he designed the campaign poster for Obama. If he could make the leap, could Banksy? So, it was with some excitement when Banksy threw his hat into the public eye, and created this documentary. It is a testament to his talent that he can go from spray painting a wall in the middle of the night to having an Oscar nominated film within the span of a few years.

‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ makes itself out to be a documentary. Whether it is or not is one of the many fascinating aspects to the film. The documentary starts off being about street art and in particular about the allusive Banksy, captured by the armature filmmaker Thierry Guetta. However, Banksy realizes that Guetta is the more interesting subject the film shifts focus and we see Guetta’s transformation into Mr. Brainwash, a street artist who models himself after other artists he admires.

While the film is a fantastic look into the world of street art, what is more interesting is the questions it raises on what constitutes as art, what makes an artist and is a scathing look at the people who consume it. Whether or not this truly is a documentary, which I doubt, or manufactured by Banksy, doesn’t really matter. It is entertaining and thought provoking, managing to both praise the street art movement as well as probe it. Both funny and scathing, the documentary is everything you’d expect from the brilliant mind of Banksy.

Rating: 4/5