Mr. Brainwash
Encyclopedia
Mr. Brainwash is a pseudonym for Thierry Guetta. According to the Banksy
directed film Exit Through the Gift Shop
, Guetta who now lives in Los Angeles, California, having been a proprietor of a clothing store and videographer
who evolved into a street artist
and gallery artist, influenced by the street artists he documented through video over the years. According to the film, Guetta was first introduced to street art by his cousin, the street artist, Invader
.
The artwork attributed to Guetta strongly emulates the styles and artistic concepts of well-known street artists including Banksy
and Shepard Fairey
. Like Banksy, Guetta employs famous artistic and historic images, many of which are copyright
ed, and amends the originals in slight or significant ways. Unlike Banksy, who is shown in the film creating his own work, Guetta states in the film that his work largely consists of "scanning and photoshopping," acts which are carried out by hired assistants. Guetta further admits that most of the actual artistic process is carried out by hired graphic designers to whom he describes his ideas.
Guetta's first show Life is Beautiful opened in Los Angeles, California, June 18, 2008. In 2009, Guetta created the cover art for Madonna
's Celebration
album. On February 14, 2010, his second show ICONS opened in New York City.
, writing in the blog The Daily Beast
, a Mr. Brainwash portrait of Jim Morrison
made of broken vinyl records appearing in the show was sold for $100,000. Massive cans were created for the show, ranging in size from 4 ft (1.2 m) to 12 ft (3.7 m) and are now embodied as prints in a series.
Contemporary Art Sale: Part II. The piece, a massive canvas, was given a pre-auction estimate of $50,000 - 70,000. The piece featured a Charlie Chaplin
character with paint can and roller in hand. The background of the work was adorned with the artist's Madonna
and Heart image, set in an urban/street environment.
The London Fall 2010, Phillips de Pury & Company
Contemporary Art Sale marked the artist's second presence in auction, this time represented by two unique works. The two pieces ranging in size, were described as spray and metallic paint, acrylic and paper collage on canvas. The smaller of the two pieces measures 106.7 x 106.7 cm (42 x 42 inches) and featured a portraiture style depiction of model Kate Moss
amongst heavy brush strokes and splatters of red, pink, and white paint all amongst a gold background. The larger piece, measuring 162.6 x 121.9 cm (64 x 48 inches), continued the artist's fascination with Albert Einstein
and featured the historic physicist in a front of a graffiti adorned wall. The works sold for well above the pre-auction estimates, fetching prices nearly 3 times higher than what was speculated in the estimates. The final prices for the two canvases were roughly $67,000 and $120,000.
logo with the date 8/30/11 began to appear in various spots around Los Angeles, California. At the time the band's management denied that these works were in any way connected with the band; however on July 14, 2011, TMZ
reported that the artwork was confirmed to be an official promotion for the Chili Peppers upcoming album, I'm with You
, which was released on August 30, 2011. The man behind the images is Mr Brainwash, who also confirmed that he has several further projects lined up with the band.
over Guetta's use of his photo of rap group Run DMC.
-produced documentary series A Day in the Life
follows Mr. Brainwash for a day. He is shown preparing for a large Los Angeles show. In the episode he says that he's been doing all of his work with a team of assistants since his first big show in 2010.
, there has been much speculation that the film and story of Mr. Brainwash are a hoax concocted by Banksy and Shepard Fairey themselves. When Guetta is shown "working," he is only seen splattering paint using aerosol cans to haphazardly color images and clumsily attempting to paste up a poster. Other aspects of the Mr. Brainwash character seem deliberately comical, such as his being pushed in a wheelbarrow after supposedly breaking his foot.
The Times
of London noted that "The blogs buzzed with rumours: that Mr Brainwash is nothing but a front for Banksy; even that he is Banksy." Fast Company
concludes "The whole thing, it's clear now, was an intricate prank being pulled on all of us by Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, with Fairey as his accomplice. ... [His work] looks like Banksy trying not to look like Banksy..."
Some suggest that Fairey and Banksy have been artificially inflating up the sales of Mr. Brainwash's work. According to Rebecca Cannon, Mr. Brainwash's work hasn't sold as well on independent forums. "With both shows held outside of commercial galleries, no professional dealers have had their reputation on the line in making fake claims of high sales. However, if Guetta is a hoax, there also exists the possibility that these artworks are actually produced by Banksy himself, in a style deliberately intended to suggest inferior artistic skill.
As the movie opened in North America, in April 2010, The Boston Globe
movie reviewer Ty Burr
found it to be quite entertaining as a farce and awarded it four stars. He dismissed the notion of the film being a "put on" saying "I’m not buying it; for one thing, this story’s too good, too weirdly rich, to be made up. For another, the movie’s gently amused scorn lands on everyone."
The artshow "Life Is Beautiful" depicted in the movie did occur, which implies that if this is a hoax the character of Thierry Guetta has existed since at least June 2008. A trailer for his movie, Life Remote Control, has been on Youtube
since 2006, as well.
An LA Times investigation found "[t]he details of Guetta's unlikely biography are broadly supported by a review of public records, which trace his life in Los Angeles from his arrival as a teenager in the early 1980s. They are also consistent with the accounts of friends, former business associates and employees over those years." Friends the Times interviewed confirmed the film's story that Guetta was constantly filming and several notarized documents prove that he hired someone to assist with the construction of his film LIFE REMOTE CONTROL.
However, it also adds that "Of course, it is impossible to prove whether his latest incarnation, Mr. Brainwash, is sincere. The film suggests that Guetta's artistic alter ego is largely a creation of Banksy, a notion Guetta doesn't refute." Guetta tells the paper: "In the end, I became [Banksy's] biggest work of art."
Banksy
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
directed film Exit Through the Gift Shop
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Guetta happily accepts the assignment, adopting the name "Mr. Brainwash", putting up street art in the city and six months later, re-mortgaging his business to afford renting copious equipment and a complete production team to create pieces of art under his supervision...
, Guetta who now lives in Los Angeles, California, having been a proprietor of a clothing store and videographer
Videographer
Strictly speaking, a videographer is a person who works in the field of videography, video production — recording moving images and sound on video tape, disk, other electro-mechanical device. News broadcasting relies heavily on live television where videographers engage in electronic news...
who evolved into a street artist
Street artist
A street artist is someone who creates and/or sells their art or craft in public for the pleasure of passers-by.Some people use the term 'street artist' more broadly and also refer to people involved in busking, such as musicians who sing and/or play instruments, acrobats, jugglers, living statues,...
and gallery artist, influenced by the street artists he documented through video over the years. According to the film, Guetta was first introduced to street art by his cousin, the street artist, Invader
Invader (artist)
Invader is a French urban artist who pastes up characters from and inspired by the Space Invaders game, made up of small coloured square mosaic tiles that form a space invader character murel...
.
The artwork attributed to Guetta strongly emulates the styles and artistic concepts of well-known street artists including Banksy
Banksy
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
and Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
. Like Banksy, Guetta employs famous artistic and historic images, many of which are copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ed, and amends the originals in slight or significant ways. Unlike Banksy, who is shown in the film creating his own work, Guetta states in the film that his work largely consists of "scanning and photoshopping," acts which are carried out by hired assistants. Guetta further admits that most of the actual artistic process is carried out by hired graphic designers to whom he describes his ideas.
Guetta's first show Life is Beautiful opened in Los Angeles, California, June 18, 2008. In 2009, Guetta created the cover art for Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's Celebration
Celebration (Madonna album)
Celebration is the third greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, and the closing release under her contract with Warner Bros. Records, her record company since 1982. The release follows her two previous greatest hits albums, The Immaculate Collection and GHV2...
album. On February 14, 2010, his second show ICONS opened in New York City.
Opera Gallery London
On October 6th 2011 MBW opened his latest solo exhibition at Opera Gallery in London. The night before the opening of the show the street outside the gallery was sprayed with paint by artist RSH as a statement about the false nature of Mr Brainwash's art work.ICONS
On February 14, 2010 Mr. Brainwash opened his second show, this time in New York City. The show, ICONS, covered 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) of an abandoned warehouse in the Meat Packing District to create a gallery. According to Anthony Haden-GuestAnthony Haden-Guest
Anthony Haden-Guest is a British-American writer, reporter, cartoonist, art critic, poet, and socialite who lives in New York and London. He is a frequent contributor to major magazines and has had several books published.-Family:...
, writing in the blog The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
, a Mr. Brainwash portrait of Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
made of broken vinyl records appearing in the show was sold for $100,000. Massive cans were created for the show, ranging in size from 4 ft (1.2 m) to 12 ft (3.7 m) and are now embodied as prints in a series.
Mr. Brainwash at auctions (records/prices)
Mr Brainwash made his major auction debut on May 14, 2010 in the Phillips de Pury & CompanyPhillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company is an auction house and art dealership, with offices in London, New York, Geneva, Berlin, Brussels, Los Angeles, Milan, Munich and Paris. Phillips conducts auctions in New York, London and Geneva in the areas of Contemporary Art, Photography, 20-21st Century Design, Art...
Contemporary Art Sale: Part II. The piece, a massive canvas, was given a pre-auction estimate of $50,000 - 70,000. The piece featured a Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
character with paint can and roller in hand. The background of the work was adorned with the artist's Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Heart image, set in an urban/street environment.
The London Fall 2010, Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company is an auction house and art dealership, with offices in London, New York, Geneva, Berlin, Brussels, Los Angeles, Milan, Munich and Paris. Phillips conducts auctions in New York, London and Geneva in the areas of Contemporary Art, Photography, 20-21st Century Design, Art...
Contemporary Art Sale marked the artist's second presence in auction, this time represented by two unique works. The two pieces ranging in size, were described as spray and metallic paint, acrylic and paper collage on canvas. The smaller of the two pieces measures 106.7 x 106.7 cm (42 x 42 inches) and featured a portraiture style depiction of model Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
amongst heavy brush strokes and splatters of red, pink, and white paint all amongst a gold background. The larger piece, measuring 162.6 x 121.9 cm (64 x 48 inches), continued the artist's fascination with Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
and featured the historic physicist in a front of a graffiti adorned wall. The works sold for well above the pre-auction estimates, fetching prices nearly 3 times higher than what was speculated in the estimates. The final prices for the two canvases were roughly $67,000 and $120,000.
Red Hot Chili Peppers artwork
In early June 2011, cryptic artwork of a robot and the Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
logo with the date 8/30/11 began to appear in various spots around Los Angeles, California. At the time the band's management denied that these works were in any way connected with the band; however on July 14, 2011, TMZ
TMZ
TMZ can refer to any of the following:*The Thames airport in New Zealand*Thirty Mile Zone, a zone in and around Hollywood, California that is considered to be "local" for purposes of entertainment industry union work rules...
reported that the artwork was confirmed to be an official promotion for the Chili Peppers upcoming album, I'm with You
I'm with You (album)
I'm with You is the tenth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released by Warner Bros. Records on August 26, 2011 in several countries and on August 29 in the US, a day earlier than originally planned...
, which was released on August 30, 2011. The man behind the images is Mr Brainwash, who also confirmed that he has several further projects lined up with the band.
Copyright infringement lawsuit
Guetta has been sued by Glen E. FriedmanGlen E. Friedman
Glen E. Friedman is an American photographer and artist.Coming to prominence in the 1980s with his photography of skateboarders and musicians, Friedman is considered one of the most important photographers of his generation.He is perhaps best known for his work promoting rebellious artists such as...
over Guetta's use of his photo of rap group Run DMC.
A Day in the Life
An episode of the Morgan SpurlockMorgan Spurlock
Morgan Valentine Spurlock is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter and journalist best known for the documentary film Super Size Me...
-produced documentary series A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life
"A Day in the Life" is a song by The Beatles, the final track on the group's 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song comprises distinct segments written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with orchestral additions...
follows Mr. Brainwash for a day. He is shown preparing for a large Los Angeles show. In the episode he says that he's been doing all of his work with a team of assistants since his first big show in 2010.
Mr. Brainwash speculation and theories
Since the release of the film Exit Through The Gift ShopExit Through the Gift Shop
Guetta happily accepts the assignment, adopting the name "Mr. Brainwash", putting up street art in the city and six months later, re-mortgaging his business to afford renting copious equipment and a complete production team to create pieces of art under his supervision...
, there has been much speculation that the film and story of Mr. Brainwash are a hoax concocted by Banksy and Shepard Fairey themselves. When Guetta is shown "working," he is only seen splattering paint using aerosol cans to haphazardly color images and clumsily attempting to paste up a poster. Other aspects of the Mr. Brainwash character seem deliberately comical, such as his being pushed in a wheelbarrow after supposedly breaking his foot.
The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
of London noted that "The blogs buzzed with rumours: that Mr Brainwash is nothing but a front for Banksy; even that he is Banksy." Fast Company
Fast Company
Fast Company can refer to:*Fast Company , starring Lon Chaney, Sr.*Fast Company , an Our Gang short*Fast Company , starring Evelyn Brent*Fast Company , featuring Deanna Durbin and Melvyn Douglas...
concludes "The whole thing, it's clear now, was an intricate prank being pulled on all of us by Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, with Fairey as his accomplice. ... [His work] looks like Banksy trying not to look like Banksy..."
Some suggest that Fairey and Banksy have been artificially inflating up the sales of Mr. Brainwash's work. According to Rebecca Cannon, Mr. Brainwash's work hasn't sold as well on independent forums. "With both shows held outside of commercial galleries, no professional dealers have had their reputation on the line in making fake claims of high sales. However, if Guetta is a hoax, there also exists the possibility that these artworks are actually produced by Banksy himself, in a style deliberately intended to suggest inferior artistic skill.
As the movie opened in North America, in April 2010, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
movie reviewer Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Ty Burr has been a film critic for the Boston Globe since 2002 where he reviews films alongside Wesley Morris.Born in 1957, he studied film at Dartmouth College and New York University and has written three books: The Hundred Greatest Movies of All Time, The Hundred Greatest Stars of All Time and...
found it to be quite entertaining as a farce and awarded it four stars. He dismissed the notion of the film being a "put on" saying "I’m not buying it; for one thing, this story’s too good, too weirdly rich, to be made up. For another, the movie’s gently amused scorn lands on everyone."
The artshow "Life Is Beautiful" depicted in the movie did occur, which implies that if this is a hoax the character of Thierry Guetta has existed since at least June 2008. A trailer for his movie, Life Remote Control, has been on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
since 2006, as well.
An LA Times investigation found "[t]he details of Guetta's unlikely biography are broadly supported by a review of public records, which trace his life in Los Angeles from his arrival as a teenager in the early 1980s. They are also consistent with the accounts of friends, former business associates and employees over those years." Friends the Times interviewed confirmed the film's story that Guetta was constantly filming and several notarized documents prove that he hired someone to assist with the construction of his film LIFE REMOTE CONTROL.
However, it also adds that "Of course, it is impossible to prove whether his latest incarnation, Mr. Brainwash, is sincere. The film suggests that Guetta's artistic alter ego is largely a creation of Banksy, a notion Guetta doesn't refute." Guetta tells the paper: "In the end, I became [Banksy's] biggest work of art."
Further reading
- Jackson, Candace; Schuker, Lauren A. E., "Mr. Brainwash: For Real?", The Wall Street Journal, February 12, 2010.
- Cinque, Nicholas; "Mr. Brainwash: Influence of the Sex Pistols", Cinque Collective, August 8, 2010.