Image and text

Banksy:

Banksy is a graffiti artist that has become popular. His identity remains a mystery, and he travels around the world creating public art works on buildings, trucks, and more. He also has been known to add text along with an image to communicate meaning. The picture by itself can have one meaning, but when you add text with it, it can completely change the meaning. The text can help add a sarcastic tone, a political commentary, a deep meaning, and the list goes on.

Examples:

This is one of Banksy's art works that includes both picture and text. It shows a man holding a paint brush next to words that say "Follow your Dreams." However, painted red over this phrase is the word "cancelled." This gives a new meaning to the picture of the man with a paint brush. In hints that we are always told to follow our dreams, but in reality, society often will knock us down. This teaches us a lesson that we should not give up on our dreams, even if people try to deter us. The text helps communicate this message, because without it, it would just be a man holding a paintbrush and bucket. But since the text is there, it sends an inspiring message.

This picture is another example of how Banksy uses text and image to communicate meaning. The art piece shows a little girl reaching towards a heart balloon that slipped away from her fingers. By itself, this picture seems to show loss and sadness, because of heart balloon floating away. However, with the addition of the words, "there is always hope," it creates a new meaning. It lifts the mood of the picture, and gives us optimism that things can still turn around no matter how lost, or how lonely and sad we feel in the moment.

Another example of Banksy using text and image is this art work. Here you can see the words "What we do in life echoes in eternity," and then we see a man washing away the words. The words by themselves mean that the things we do in life will stay with the world forever. However, by adding the man that is washing away the words, it creates a new meaning. Together is sends the message that life is not forever, and someday we will leave this world. Instead of doing things so that we are remembered, we should do things in order to be a good person.

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What have you learned about Text & Image?

I have learned that Text and Image can be used together to better communicate a theme or message.

How do contemporary artists use the concept of Text & Image in their artwork?

Contemporary artists often use the concept of text and image to express opinions and views. For example, text can be used to send a sarcastic tone that would otherwise be harder to express with just an image.

How might you be able to use Text and Image in your own art?

In my own work I could use text to more clearly send a message. I could do this by incorporating words into an animation somehow.

Is there something that you found in your investigation that specifically interested or inspired you?

I personally found it interesting that Banksy was able to create a picture which by itself would have one meaning, but then add text that flips the meaning.