The World of Banksy Exhibition in Dubai is Extended

Not managed to visit The World of Banksy Exhibition in Dubai yet? Don’t panic – the exhibition’s run at The Theatre, in Mall of the Emirates, is extended until 31 December. Which gives you some wiggle room to catch “the biggest Banksy exhibition in the world” before the year end.

The World of Banksy at The Theatre gallery features 120 reproductions of the acclaimed British graffiti artist’s work. It includes some of his most famous pieces like ‘Girl with a Balloon’, the ‘Flower Thrower’ and ‘Mobile Lovers’. Tickets will set you back less than AED80.

Revered

While his identity remains a secret, Banksy is revered as one of the finest contemporary street artists worldwide. His works, often satirical and always thought-provoking, address political issues, cultural identity and ethnicity. Banksy sees the world as his canvas. His art has appeared on the streets of London to New York, Berlin to Timbuktu and from Gaza to Tokyo. Banksy’s art has also transcended from the street to famous art institutions like the British Museum, Tate Modern and the Louvre Museum.

While some still consider the artist a mere vandal, the majority consider him a genius social commentator. Justin Bieber has Banksy’s ‘Girl with a Balloon’ image tattooed on his arm. In 2018, Banksy courted controversy again by mechanically shredding his ‘Girl with a Balloon’ painting immediately after it sold at auction for more than £1 million. Despite standing up against the commodification of art, auction houses have found buyers for Banksy’s works at record prices.

Influential

In 2010, Banksy was also named one of the world’s most influential people by Time Magazine, alongside Lady Gaga, Obama, Robert Pattinson, Sir Elton John and Prince. The mysterious figure features heavily in filmmaker Thierry Guetta’s ‘Exit Through the Giftshop’ documentary, which is worth watching.

Also read: Creative Forces Heading to UAE for First Semi Permanent Middle East Festival