Is it real, or is it art?
Enter the potentially surreal world of art, folks, this time told from the perspective of street art and its eventual commodification. Exit Through the Gift Shop is an off-kilter documentary that presents the story of Thierry Guetta and his association with the (then) underground world of street art.
Guetta liked to film stuff - lots of stuff - everything all the time. He was a man obsessed with filming, capturing event after event. During one of his many recordings during a family visit to his native France, he met his cousin, the street artist who goes by the name Space Invader (or just Invader). Having stumbled upon Invader preparing his art, Guetta was given the chance to see Invader at work in creating street art. And so the deed was done: Guetta was hooked, compelled to find out more about this whole movement called "street art" and to film it all. So began Guetta's strange and hilarious journey, taking him from France back to his home in LA, meeting various street artists along the way.
Among the more recognizable artists he meets is Shepard Fairey, creator of iconic urban images such as "Obey" (a modified picture of Andre the Giant) and the Barack Obama "HOPE" poster. We also catch glimpses of Ron English, the artist who created images featured in Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me. Constantly filming the artists at work, Guetta, however, really wants to know more about this one artist he keeps hearing about: the legendary and enigmatic Banksy. Then, one day, he's given his chance to meet Banksy, beginning the Spinal Tap-ish process of his trying to make a documentary on street art.
I won't go into further detail, since it's something you'd have to see and judge for yourself to asses its merits and accuracy. The documentary's authenticity has even been questioned by various reviewers and critics, wondering if they've been put on. Whatever the case may be, it's an insightful and illuminating journey into how some art becomes accepted into the "Art World", then eventually commodified and popularized. (Guetta has even provoked critical responses such as this one, left by the artist RSH.)
Personally, I find Guetta's works to be laughably bad pastiches, having next to no meaning at all. However, maybe that's how all of it's supposed to be seen; as being one giant middle finger spray painted on the Art World. I recommend this odd documentary to all interested!
Also, visit: http://www.banksy.co.uk/
