If you feel dirty, insignificant or unloved, then rats are a good role model. They exist without permission, they have no respect for the hierarchy of society, and they have sex 50 times a day.
BanksyRead
When you go to an art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the exclusivity of art collections and the perception of art as a status symbol.
Banksy's quote highlights the disparity between the elite collectors of art and the average viewer. It suggests that art galleries often serve as showcases for the wealth of a few, rather than accessible spaces for all to appreciate creativity, thus critiquing how art is commodified and perceived in society.
Themes
ArtGalleryWealthCritiqueSociety
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote during a discussion about the accessibility of art to the general public.
More from Banksy
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Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub, you know, the one opposite that wall with a picture of a monkey holding a chainsaw". I mean, how much more useful can a painting be than that?
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Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f**king sharp knife to it.
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Gaza is often described as 'the world's largest open air prison' because no-one is allowed to enter or leave. But that seems a bit unfair to prisons - they donβt have their electricity and drinking water cut off randomly almost every day.
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