Banksy was a trailblazer and is still the name on everyone's lips. But the street art scene is thriving, and there are plenty of other British graffiti and street artists to pay attention to. They attract visitors from all over the world with their vibrant creations that often appear simple, but definitely deserve a second glance – as I have learned on my art journey...
Ask someone today to think of a street artist and the name that springs to mind is, of course, Banksy. He made the news again, and delighted fans, with his series of animal-themed murals that appeared across London over nine days. From three monkeys swinging on a concrete railway bridge to a vigilante gorilla allowing London Zoo's menagerie of animals to escape, plenty of people had theories about the statement that was being made, while others revelled in the chance to see a Banksy in 'real life'. The elusive street artist had done it again and captured everyone's attention.
Street art tends to challenge viewers' perceptions, and another artist who also proves that 'less is more' is Stik. His creations that feature his distinctive, stylised figures are rare, making both his works and his persona fascinating. When I first came across Stik, my first glance at the red Sleeping Baby (below) was fairly brief and I just saw a stickman - boy, was I wrong. As I've learnt more and come to appreciate art, I now see a resting vulnerable person – and when I look closely, I sometime can't turn away as I connect with the emotions that everyone feels when they are sick or alone or feeling fragile (the print was released alongside a mural, as a fundraiser for Homerton hospital).
His 'Holding Hands' lithographs that were issued in the Hackney Today newspaper in 2020 as a special thank you to residents is another example of Stik's ability to communicate profound messages. Hand holding is a personal connection between two people, but the figures in the print look apprehensive, as if worried about being separated. Look again and it's not clear who is leading who in the striking image. We've all felt that fear of being apart from a loved one – especially those who experience it due to war, persecution, addiction, illness, etc. Of course, there are people who are drawn to the prints because they love the vibrant colours in the set (including me) and that's ok!
Stik was recently mentioned in an article in The Guardian: 'Beyond Banksy: the other British street artists you should know'. As someone relatively new to this kind of contemporary art, it's great to read that there is a thriving UK scene – and interesting to learn that it has a long history. It's also refreshing to hear the opinions of the graffiti and street artists (other than Banksy and Stik!) who feature in the article, so definitely worth a read.
Mr Cenz acknowledges that the attention on Banksy is “giving the whole scene exposure”. Street art more generally has become a vital part of the UK’s character, and visitors are coming from all over the world just to scope it out – but he adds: “For me, street art is about painting for people, painting in a more deprived area where people need uplifting.”
Ben Eine says this about being a street artist: “You learn how to express yourself, it gives you an identity. Banksy could be a boring, middle-aged man with two kids, but when he goes out under the mask of Banksy, he’s a little bit of a superhero. He puts on his Banksy cape, and off he goes.”
I quite like this exciting, romantic way of looking at being a street artist, but this is my favourite quote of his from the article: “You just walk down the street and see something and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, hey Jimmy, look at that.’ Street art's accessible. And I think, generally, getting your face out of your iPhone, opening your eyes and looking around is a healthy thing to do.”
I couldn't agree more!
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