Banksy’s studio could best be described as ‘method in the madness’. Walls covered in sketches of ideas for bigger pieces which end up being executed predominantly on the streets of Britain. Photography shots can be seen on the walls also pages and cutting from magazines. Experimental stencils can be seen used straight onto the walls next too finished canvas ready for a gallery setting.
Banksy’s studio can be seen in the 2010 film ‘Exit through the gift shop’ His studio isn’t an office setting and definitely not just one room. It is an old warehouse in an undisclosed location. It has multiple floors with his artworks/prints leaning up in an unneat fashion. Paint buckets, spray paint and paper. This can be seen on the floor in no particular order.
Having said about the parts of Banksy’s studio which doesn’t seem to have any order it’s only fair I talk about the parts that do. High tables are used for what I presume is printmaking this process easier to do stood up and able to move around the studio space more freely. Big windows with a massive amount of soft natural light are used to their advantage. Outside light coloured walls bounce the natural light in making it softer for no harsh shadows. Inside the walls are clean white within this area again helping to create a bright atmosphere perfect for the precision needed to make a Banksy print.
Piles of paper can be seen organized on shelving units into what looks like size order. This is a presumption, could also be organized by weight (gsm) or type of paper. Either way, this shows the organization and the amount of work being produced by Banksy and his team. We know Banksy works with a team and not just by himself as it is addressed in the film ‘Exit thought the gift shop’. Banksy invited Thierry Guetta aka Mr Brainwash to film behind closed doors and his team was not exactly happy about it. Steve Lazarides (who worked alongside Banksy and took the original photos used in this blog post) said: “I felt it was a big breach of security being the man of mystery and being filmed at the same time just like oxymoron I think, very dangerous thing”.
This shot in another room shows the complexity and scale to which Banksy works too. Having a created an operation which moves like a factory production line. Prints can be seen above being packaged up in the brown paper. Giving an interaction on how Banksy makes some of his revenue.
Banksy uses a range of materials. Most commonly known for using spray paint and stencils. He has also been known to use basic painting and decorating equipment such as emulsions, rollers and paintbrushes. Using these materials on canvas, paper, walls of buildings and pretty much anything else he can get paint to stick too. Banksy also works with his team on large installations. It is unclear if he outsources workshops to create these pieces or if they are all created in house at his studio which is a strong possibility given the large scale of his creative operation.
