Art As A Message

Art as a message

Banksys “Les Miserables Artwork” is a mural that highlights the use of tear gas on refugees in the “Jungle camp” in Calais which is the home to the Eurotunnel that connects Britain and France with a train link. The piece is placed near the French embassy in London with a Barcode which a phone can connect to and then it presents a Youtube video of the Jungle Camp in Calais and how refugees are being attacked by tear gas. The piece features the iconic image of the young character “Cosette” from “Les Misérables” with tears in her eyes as gas billows is thrown towards her.

Colour

The stencil image of the character is in black, white and grey to symbolise the atmosphere of when the tear gas is used and how it effects people and the environment. Also, these colours are used to present how tear gas effects human’s emotions and health as the same colours are used for the character and tear gas can which connect them both together. Finally, I believe these colours are used as they symbolise sad emotions which relates to the subject of the piece. The colour red is used to emphasise the tears on the character as tear gas is dangerous and one of the effects is that it makes your eyes water. Also I believe Banksy has used this to emphasise the tears and how it the jungle and situation is effecting people’s lives. The colours of the French Flag is used to symbolise where it is happening and where it relates to the place that the piece is placed. Also I believe these colours are also used to connect Britain and France as the flags use the same colours. It relates to how Britain and France are connected and refugees who are wanting to travel to Britain for a new life. The colours symbolise the emotions and situations that the refugees are facing.

Imagery/Symbols

The character is taken from the musical and book “Les Miserables”. Bansky has used this message to imply the struggle that the French faced during the revolution and who wanted to achieve freedom. I believe that Banksy has used this character as it relates to the refugees in Callis who are wanting freedom to travel to Britain and start a new life which relates to the how the French people felt during the revolution. Also I believe Banksy used this image to symbolise to the audience the film and make them understand through the image and history behind it. The flag is also used to relate to the character and musical “Les Miserables”. Also the flag is used to symbolise where the refugees are in Calais and how the history behind the French Revolution relates to what the refugees are experiencing.

Banksys Follow Your Dreams-Cancelled

Banksys Follow Your Dreams-Cancelled is a piece that was placed in Boston’s China Town in 2010. The piece suggests that the “American Dream” is a myth and can’t be achieved as society is stopping you achieving your dreams. In the state of Boston, Graffiti like Banksys artwork, Is illegal to create which relates to piece as it suggests that the government is stopping artists from being creative and following their dreams.

Colour

Banksy uses the dull colours black and grey to emphasise the emotions felt by artists who can’t express themselves through graffiti in states like Boston. Also the colours suggest the loss of creativity as they are dull colours and do not express any emotions. The colour red is used to highlight the word “Cancelled” and inform the audience about how artists are not allowed to follow their dreams. Also I believe the colour is used to present a warning to the government and states which is that artists can follow their dreams and will continue to create pieces like graffiti in the environment around them.

Contrast

Different styles of writing are used to present the difference between graffiti style and how the council and states deal with controversial artwork. The graffiti writing is very messy and presents how people are expressing themselves around their environments. However the “Cancelled” font is very formal which relates back to the lack of creativity that the government have. Banksy has placed both of these elements together to show the strong contrast between how artwork is being presented and how It is being destroyed.