Blek le Rat show in NYC Weds Oct 8, by WOOF on Oct 8, 2014 3:22:12 GMT 1,

Oct 8, 2014 2:13:21 GMT 1 randomname said:

Oct 8, 2014 0:48:59 GMT 1 WOOF said:

Go ahead and post images that back up that statement if you'd like. I'll, in turn, post photos of old ass blek stencils that banksy made near copies of long after. I'm not saying he stole them, but c'mon man, seems like you've been mr. brainwashed.

Like I said, look at the timeline of his work. Before 2002, everything he did was a one-color stencil (usually black). After that, he started putting down a white base layer like a certain other artist who was fairly well known by then. Banksy had been using stencils since the late 90s. 

That might not sound like a very big difference, but when you look at the work, this doesn't look too similar to Banksy.



This, on the other hand, looks much closer.




Blek takes credit for being the "father of stencil art." Stencil art has been around for at least 1,200 years and stencil graffiti began showing up in NYC in the 60s and 70s. So he didn't invent the stencil and he didn't invent stencil graffiti. If two people choose to paint stencils of people, some similarities are inevitable.

So in short, I think the similarities between their work are overstated, especially when you compare Blek's early work to Banksy. I also think Blek has made a pretty good career for himself using Banksy's name every chance he gets.

Was gonna find a bunch of pics, but someone did all the hard work for me.

imgur.com/a/CEyy3

What you fail to mention is blek's pieces without a white layer are on white walls. The images you point to in his timeline even show that.

Blek has been making art far longer than banksy, and he certainly wasn't a nobody before banksycame around - especially in france. and your arguement that stencil has been around for 1200 years is ridiclous as you know that's not what they mean when they say that. If you can point to someone who's more well known for doing stencils before blek's time, I welcome hearing about them...

Oct 8, 2014 2:13:21 GMT 1 randomname said:

Oct 8, 2014 0:48:59 GMT 1 WOOF said:

Go ahead and post images that back up that statement if you'd like. I'll, in turn, post photos of old ass blek stencils that banksy made near copies of long after. I'm not saying he stole them, but c'mon man, seems like you've been mr. brainwashed.

Like I said, look at the timeline of his work. Before 2002, everything he did was a one-color stencil (usually black). After that, he started putting down a white base layer like a certain other artist who was fairly well known by then. Banksy had been using stencils since the late 90s. 

That might not sound like a very big difference, but when you look at the work, this doesn't look too similar to Banksy.



This, on the other hand, looks much closer.




Blek takes credit for being the "father of stencil art." Stencil art has been around for at least 1,200 years and stencil graffiti began showing up in NYC in the 60s and 70s. So he didn't invent the stencil and he didn't invent stencil graffiti. If two people choose to paint stencils of people, some similarities are inevitable.

So in short, I think the similarities between their work are overstated, especially when you compare Blek's early work to Banksy. I also think Blek has made a pretty good career for himself using Banksy's name every chance he gets.

Was gonna find a bunch of pics, but someone did all the hard work for me.

imgur.com/a/CEyy3

What you fail to mention is blek's pieces without a white layer are on white walls. The images you point to in his timeline even show that.

Blek has been making art far longer than banksy, and he certainly wasn't a nobody before banksycame around - especially in france. and your arguement that stencil has been around for 1200 years is ridiclous as you know that's not what they mean when they say that. If you can point to someone who's more well known for doing stencils before blek's time, I welcome hearing about them...