Banksy unmasked by journalists
Simon Gardner, a journalist for Reuters news agency, has published a lengthy report which claims to reveal the true identity of street artist Banksy. Fans have reacted angrily online, saying that anonymity is part of Bansky's artwork. While some commentators agree, others are in favour of the unmasking.
Have the courage to tolerate not knowing
The taz criticises the unmasking:
“The obsessive search to reveal his identity just shows how incapable our society is of tolerating not knowing. In times where every little aspect of a star's life is obsessed over on Instagram and everything seems controllable, anything beyond reach is considered a nuisance. When therein lies it true value: unavailability stimulates imagination, respect and distance - all things that are being destroyed by the total transparency of today's digital world. The Reuters journalists are casting themselves as servants of the public interest. Despite the warning from Banksy's lawyer that his anonymity protects the artist's freedom of expression, they are publishing his identity citing an alleged significant public interest. But whose interest do they mean?”
His works speak for themselves
Banksy's anonymity means more to the world than knowing his identity, Libération argues:
“Why hunt him down like a public enemy except, by publishing his name and identity, to prevent him doing what he does. And why should we feel the need to justify works that denounce injustice, when their success proves that they speak for themselves? ... This unknown hand, both civic and peaceful, which can appear at any time in any corner of the world, as it did just recently in Kiev and Marseille - encourages empathy and solidarity with our fellow citizens. ... And there was the added bonus that this unknown Banksy allowed us all to dream that any one of us could be this Zorro. ... Is that not a genuine public service, and is it not totally irrelevant what his real face looks like?”
Lucrative trademark
Banksy benefits twice from his anonymity, Le HuffPost counters:
“His anonymity has become his trademark - and a very lucrative one at that. According to Reuters, it is impossible to find out how much Banksy has personally earned over the years, but since 2015 re-sales of his works have generated 250 million euros. ... For the artist, this is certainly one more reason to remain cunningly hidden behind his anonymity. ... It allows him to continue working away quietly (some would say with impunity) to denounce what he sees as society's ills. But also to capitalise on the lucrative secrecy that enshrouds him.”