KO and Mr.Brainwash
My life is connected by random occurrences. I thrive as an artist from these experiences and my heart swells a little more every time some existential question I have been seeking is answered. Years ago, 2010 to be exact, I saw a film called Exit Through The Gift Shop. The film was directed by Street Artist Banksy, and documented the story of how an amateur film maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on him and document what he was attempting to create. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work.
The film stroke many a debate on it’s film festival circuit, in the art world and on the street. I honestly, as the conspiracy theorist that I am, believed this man known as Mr.Brainwash aka. Thierry Guetta was an actor. Nothing but a character in a film made to emphasize Banksy’s art and throw whom ever was seeking him out off his trail, leading them to believe it is Mr.Brainwash creating these works, and not himself. I even thought there was irony in the tag name “Mr.Brainwash” as it is wiping Banksy away from the slate and throwing Mr.Brainwash into the foreground (That is what Film School will do to you friends). I would continue to debate this with anyone who wanted to tell me otherwise.
Over the Labor day long week-end in California, some friends, my husband and I headed to Malibu to scope out Missoni’s new store location, only to see the windows covered up and looking like it is sadly no more. Feeling slightly defeated as this was the second time I have made the drive from Los Angeles to visit this location and both times it was unsuccessful, it felt natural just to go to Chipotle two door down and find something to make myself feel better. On my way there, something in between called the Wall Street Gallerycaught my eye. We wandered in, and as I looked at the art on the walls my eye continued to the title card where it said the artist was Mr.Brainwash— wait—no, this can’t be…. and yeah, everything around me said the same thing. I wasn’t sure what this was about. I saw an image I have been in love with for ages. It is an image of Einstein holding a sign that says “Love is the Answer”. My friend turned to me and said, “See, he is a real artist!” and I was interested, but still felt the urge to get Chipotle and digest all this information…Missoni store closed, Mr.Brainwash has a gallery in Malibu… so I started into my salsa and guac… up walks the man himself Mr.Brainwash exclaiming in his wonderful french accent “I EXIST!” My friends had met him in the gallery and enlightened him on my “outrageous” theories.
After spending time chatting with Thierry aka Mr.Brainwash and spending time in the gallery with him around his work, I see how much love goes into what he does and the message is everything. Have I changed my theories on Exit Through The Gift Shop? I don’t know. I guess I am at a place of acceptance that whatever will be with art will be. I am happy we got to meet, share a story about art and agree on a positive messages importance in the art world.
All photos courtesy of Mr.Brainwash
Check out Mr. Brainwash and BANKSY on Artsy.net
