Press release 14 May 2021
Banksy. A Visual Protest to open at Serlachius Museums in Finland
The exhibition Banksy. A Visual Protest, extensively presenting the art of Banksy, the most famous and enigmatic street artist, opens at Serlachius Museum Gösta on 15 May 2021. The exhibition, implemented in cooperation with 24 Ore Cultura of Milan, is the first Banksy exhibition to be shown in Finland. Admission to the museum is free during the exhibition.
Banksy. A Visual Protest features, in particular, works belonging to Banksy’s early output: graphics and record covers. The exhibition is complemented by multimedia of street art he has made around the world, some of which has already been lost. The exhibition will run from 15 May to 10 October 2021.
The exhibition whose previous versions have been seen in Milan and Rome, is curated by Gianni Mercurio, a curator specialising in pop and street art. This is not an official Banksy exhibition, as it has not been authorised by the artist himself. However, all the exhibition works are authenticated Banksy works from different collections.
The identity of Banksy (b. 1970s) – from Bristol, England – is unknown. Since the 1990s, he has produced street art, performances and artistic tricks around the world. Banksy has eluded the authorities for years, as attempts have been made to hold him accountable for, among other things, defacing public places. At the same time, he has become one of Britain’s most respected and beloved contemporary artists.
Protected by his anonymity, Banksy makes street art in public places and has smuggled his own works into museums without the staff noticing. His stencil technique enables him to work quickly and to create visually skilful work with engaging content. Banksy has also organised his own carefully implemented exhibitions, each of which more inventive than the other.
Underneath the humour, social protest is revealed
Banksy’s art mocks commercialism and criticises consumer society. His themes are often anti-war and deeply humane, but at the same time contain warm humour. The multidimensionality of the themes are a hallmark of Banksy’s art. His works first appear humorous, but on closer inspection they exude strong social protest. Animal rights, climate change, the exercise of power, and hypocrisy are also standard subjects.
The exhibition Banksy. A Visual Protest at Serlachius Museum Gösta is built around themes. Banksy’s works, in which he rebels against the cultural supremacy of our time and criticises the market economy, form their own entity. Anti-war subjects are a recurring theme in his art, as are rats, which Banksy sees as metaphors for street artists and portrays them sometimes as vandals, sometimes as rappers or workers.
Banksy has produced a lot of record covers for various bands, which are usually British groups that play punk or alternative rock. These record covers will also be seen at the Serlachius Museums. The exhibition also includes an introductory section, which introduces street art before Banksy and provides a frame of reference for his art.
The exhibition comprises about 170 works by Banksy or objects related to his career. The exhibition architecture created by Tarja Väätänen, Serlachius Museums’ Head of Design, supports the character of the show and leads the audience to the world of Banksy’s art: to the dark allies on the outskirts of a city and the shadows of warehouse buildings.
A live stream substituting the exhibition opening will be broadcast on Friday 14 May at 8 pm from the Serlachius Museum Gösta. Beside interviews, it contains glimpses from the exhibition and its construction as well as a performance of Finnish rapper Paleface. Journalist Sean Ricks hosts the opening ceremonies. Access to the live stream through this link: https://youtu.be/g2vYcyL5qpc
In the spirit of the artist: no entry fees, no merchandise
“I am proud that it is possible for Serlachius, in this informal, expertly curated exhibition that magnificently covers the themes of Banksy’s art, to present one of the world’s most important contemporary artists,” says Pauli Sivonen, Director of the Serlachius Museums.
Banksy is critical of art institutions and the unauthorised presentation of his art. He keeps a blacklist of museums and galleries that seek to profit financially from his art or present illegal copies of his works. For this reason, the Serlachius Museums will not charge an entrance fee for the duration of the Banksy exhibition and will not sell merchandise related to the exhibition.
Exhibition publication on Banksy’s relationship with the art world
The only product related to the exhibition is the publication Banksy. A Visual Protest which reviews Banksy’s oeuvre as part of the continuum of art history. Its authors are Pauli Sivonen, Gianni Mercurio, Demetrio Paparoni, Raf Valvola Scelsi as well as Butterfly and David Chaumet. The book has been published by Parvs Publications.
For further information, please contact:
Pauli Sivonen, Director of the Serlachius Museums tel. +358 (0)50 566 1355, pauli.sivonen@serlachius.fi
Image requests:
Susanna Yläjärvi, Information Officer of the Serlachius Museums, +358 (0)50 560 0156, susanna.ylajarvi@serlachius.fi
The Serlachius Museums are open:
in the winter season, 1 September–31 May, from Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am–6 pm.
in the summer season, 1 June–31 August, every day 10 am–6 pm
Visiting addresses:
Serlachius Museum Gösta, Joenniementie 47, Mänttä
Serlachius Museum Gustaf, R. Erik Serlachiuksen katu 2, Mänttä
Serlachius Museums in the social media:
https://facebook.com/serlachius
https://twitter.com/serlachius
https://instagram.com/serlachiusmuseums
https://youtube.com/serlachiusmuseot
