There are many parallels between UK based street artist Banksy and New York based street artist TMNK. Both have had their share of fame, criticism and replicators. While the former seems to be a reluctant art star, the latter basks in it. TMNK recently pulled off the impossible, when his work wasn’t included in this year’s Art Basel exhibition he took a page from Banksy’s book and put the work up himself. Call it Creative Curating.
Three large ‘Drip’ murals, featuring what appeared to be his iconic signature image, a one-eyed, crowned character, were spotted throughout Art Basel at various locations. Within the special installations section the artist made a powerful statement re-emphasizing his mantra, with a sticker placed in the center of the room reading, “Art Is My Weapon” with blood/ink soaked miniature army men surrounding it.
Cunningly and powerful, the artist compels you to see his message. A message that we had overlooked in the same stickers we had passed earlier while walking to the exhibition. According to TMNK, he wanted to ‘shake things up.’ “No, i wasn’t invited, So I invited myself,” he tells us.
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GREATeclectic aka Kendrick Daye is a DJ, artist and the Editor of Art Nouveau Magazine. As a freelance journalist and photographer his work has been featured in the NY Times Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Upscale Magazine, Creative Loafing, Honeymag.com & Yo-Raps.com.
