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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by Rouen Cathedral on Mar 21, 2017 16:56:21 GMT 1, Looking at the Walled Off Hotel I've been thinking the past couple days about what it is. Is it art? Philanthropy/advocacy? Both? This has made me start to question whether it can really be both?
I think on a very high level, a micro scale, looking down from the clouds it can be argued that its both. I think the concept behind it is incredible. Showcase some art, create jobs and money for the local community and economy, promote tourism, promote awareness for the region and the problems. It has everything.
The problem to me is when you start looking at it on a macro level. Zooming in and taking it for what it is. Looking at the components, the details, the physicality of it.
Looking at it as if its a real hotel and if its meant to promote tourism and awareness to the area, I think that works. Its creating jobs, its bringing money to the community (we think), and its definitely putting the conflict in the spotlight. It appears to be working in that regard. The motivation to create all those things from the original concept seem great and successful.
Now if the above is true the hotel itself is not art. It can't be. If the hotel is art to me it reduces all of it. It dooms the true purity of the goal. It becomes a product of an artist. It puts the artist at the forefront. Bella Gladman may be right that its "ludicrous pompousness."
Now can the hotel be real (not art) while containing art? Yes, I think it could. I think it could house all the small scale individual works its does, the murals, even the concept of visiting and adding to the wall. That could all be art within this reality of helping the area and bringing awareness to the situation with a real hotel.
However, the publicity of Banksy, the includance of it becoming Banksys website (the only subject), that Banksy is running it, yields that the whole thing is a work of art. Surely, it could have been opened, managed by some 'third party', there could have been a couple photos on Banksys site showing some of the individual works. This would have created the same awareness, interest, movement to the area.
But for now the hotel is a performance by Banksy, that seems like it will end, that all the art will go somewhere else and the hotel will close. If thats the case, it is a shame. It degrades all the good of the original concept and leaves it as just art.
Only the future will tell if thats true and what will become of the hotel and the art within. Conceptually, the concept is great. I understand how it came to be. But, when you really break down the factors, the components, the details I'm afraid that 'it being art' distracts from the purity of the concept and the goal of awareness. Yes, it sparks discussion, helps the economy, brings awareness, etc.But it also becomes about the artist, who made it, the greatness of the artist pulling it off, the greed that maybe if I hit F5 for 10 straight hours I'll luck out. Its a distraction to the original concept and pure goal.
Looking at the Walled Off Hotel I've been thinking the past couple days about what it is. Is it art? Philanthropy/advocacy? Both? This has made me start to question whether it can really be both?
I think on a very high level, a micro scale, looking down from the clouds it can be argued that its both. I think the concept behind it is incredible. Showcase some art, create jobs and money for the local community and economy, promote tourism, promote awareness for the region and the problems. It has everything.
The problem to me is when you start looking at it on a macro level. Zooming in and taking it for what it is. Looking at the components, the details, the physicality of it.
Looking at it as if its a real hotel and if its meant to promote tourism and awareness to the area, I think that works. Its creating jobs, its bringing money to the community (we think), and its definitely putting the conflict in the spotlight. It appears to be working in that regard. The motivation to create all those things from the original concept seem great and successful.
Now if the above is true the hotel itself is not art. It can't be. If the hotel is art to me it reduces all of it. It dooms the true purity of the goal. It becomes a product of an artist. It puts the artist at the forefront. Bella Gladman may be right that its "ludicrous pompousness."
Now can the hotel be real (not art) while containing art? Yes, I think it could. I think it could house all the small scale individual works its does, the murals, even the concept of visiting and adding to the wall. That could all be art within this reality of helping the area and bringing awareness to the situation with a real hotel.
However, the publicity of Banksy, the includance of it becoming Banksys website (the only subject), that Banksy is running it, yields that the whole thing is a work of art. Surely, it could have been opened, managed by some 'third party', there could have been a couple photos on Banksys site showing some of the individual works. This would have created the same awareness, interest, movement to the area.
But for now the hotel is a performance by Banksy, that seems like it will end, that all the art will go somewhere else and the hotel will close. If thats the case, it is a shame. It degrades all the good of the original concept and leaves it as just art.
Only the future will tell if thats true and what will become of the hotel and the art within. Conceptually, the concept is great. I understand how it came to be. But, when you really break down the factors, the components, the details I'm afraid that 'it being art' distracts from the purity of the concept and the goal of awareness. Yes, it sparks discussion, helps the economy, brings awareness, etc.But it also becomes about the artist, who made it, the greatness of the artist pulling it off, the greed that maybe if I hit F5 for 10 straight hours I'll luck out. Its a distraction to the original concept and pure goal.
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Aza
Artist
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,983
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November 2006
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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by Rouen Cathedral on Mar 21, 2017 17:39:34 GMT 1,
Yes. I posted a new thread as I figured everyone would get angry if I posted there. :-). Mods feel free to move!
Yes. I posted a new thread as I figured everyone would get angry if I posted there. :-). Mods feel free to move!
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Aza
Artist
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,983
Likes โข 3,791
November 2006
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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by Aza on Mar 21, 2017 17:40:50 GMT 1, I would think that is the thread to post it in. More threads on the same thing makes it difficult to follow.
I would think that is the thread to post it in. More threads on the same thing makes it difficult to follow.
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faute
New Member
Posts โข 130
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March 2008
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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by faute on Mar 21, 2017 21:45:45 GMT 1, [...]However, the publicity of Banksy, the includance of it becoming Banksys website (the only subject), that Banksy is running it, yields that the whole thing is a work of art. Surely, it could have been opened, managed by some 'third party', there could have been a couple photos on Banksys site showing some of the individual works. This would have created the same awareness, interest, movement to the area.[....] I see it as a bit of everything, and I see this part differently. I feel it that he wants the project to succeed. Maybe too much. I have a lot of respect for what he did, because now he took risks. This could upset some people from every sides. I mean, I don't think it will do real harm, but he took some risks for his career. I see it as the product of a responsible free artist. And I have a lot of respect for that. Even if I do not like everything (for example, the "out of order" elevator is a lot too kitsch ...or cynical to me).
Usually, "smart" people who have "succeded" try to avoid upsetting too many people (if we forget the ones creating meaningless controversies to make a name for themselves), instead of being free. From an outside perspective, I see it as he took risks (more than the money he did put into the project), real people are working there and thus he is trying to make it a success.
[...]However, the publicity of Banksy, the includance of it becoming Banksys website (the only subject), that Banksy is running it, yields that the whole thing is a work of art. Surely, it could have been opened, managed by some 'third party', there could have been a couple photos on Banksys site showing some of the individual works. This would have created the same awareness, interest, movement to the area.[....] I see it as a bit of everything, and I see this part differently. I feel it that he wants the project to succeed. Maybe too much. I have a lot of respect for what he did, because now he took risks. This could upset some people from every sides. I mean, I don't think it will do real harm, but he took some risks for his career. I see it as the product of a responsible free artist. And I have a lot of respect for that. Even if I do not like everything (for example, the "out of order" elevator is a lot too kitsch ...or cynical to me). Usually, "smart" people who have "succeded" try to avoid upsetting too many people (if we forget the ones creating meaningless controversies to make a name for themselves), instead of being free. From an outside perspective, I see it as he took risks (more than the money he did put into the project), real people are working there and thus he is trying to make it a success.
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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by Rouen Cathedral on Aug 23, 2018 16:49:35 GMT 1, So over a year later and figured I'd revisit this.
As I mentioned time will tell. So far I must say I am pleasantly surprised that the hotel is still open and functioning. Hopefully that will continue. As of now I applaud this 'work' from concept to execution by Banksy.
As a concept the hotel is a wonderful work of art. The art inside the hotel is quite great as well.
I stand by my original idea that the hotel function in itself can't/shouldn't be a work of art. I think the timeline of this and if it continues supports this idea that the execution of the hotel isn't art. It is not a performance.
So Bravo Banksy.
Lets check back in at another time...
So over a year later and figured I'd revisit this.
As I mentioned time will tell. So far I must say I am pleasantly surprised that the hotel is still open and functioning. Hopefully that will continue. As of now I applaud this 'work' from concept to execution by Banksy.
As a concept the hotel is a wonderful work of art. The art inside the hotel is quite great as well.
I stand by my original idea that the hotel function in itself can't/shouldn't be a work of art. I think the timeline of this and if it continues supports this idea that the execution of the hotel isn't art. It is not a performance.
So Bravo Banksy.
Lets check back in at another time...
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moron
Junior Member
Posts โข 2,711
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September 2017
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Walled Off Hotel: Is it Art, philanthropy/advocacy, both?, by moron on Aug 23, 2018 20:58:37 GMT 1, It's an installation, a protest, a place of welcoming, a statement, a gallery, a witness, a colaboration, and a hotel.
It's an installation, a protest, a place of welcoming, a statement, a gallery, a witness, a colaboration, and a hotel.
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