Mobile Lovers by Banksy
Bristol City Art Gallery
"The human spirit must prevail over technology" Albert Einstein.
Bristol's cultural icon, the elusive 'Banksy' has returned to the city's street art scene. The world-renowned - yet pseudonymous street artist - is known for his satirical street art with its unique stencilling technique. He exploded back into the media spotlight with this new graffiti illustrating a couple serrepticiously checking their smartphones as they embrace. Mobile Lovers is commenting on the damaging effects of our generation's obsession with technology and connectivity and what it does to our romantic relationships, our friendships and our ability to converse.
The recent tale - which has captured the tabloid's imagination - focuses on how the work was sprayed onto a council-owned wall beside the Bristol Broad PlainsYouth Club, which has faced closing due to lack of funding. The club's leader took the initiative to move the piece inside to protect it from vandalism and encourage donations. However, the City Council argued it was their property and controversially placed it in the Bristol City Museum, where I saw it yesterday. Miraculously, given his anonymity, a letter has just been sent from Banksy to the Boys Club confirming that they can keep the piece if it will help them to continue with their community work. And a happy ending came at last when the Mayor confirmed it was real letter from Banksy and that the piece would be returned.
However, I hope that this media storm doesn't obscure the real message of Banksy's piece. Everyday I see friends gathered to socialise, but with their eyes on their screens and I find it deeply depressing. Even worse, I watch people stroll across the street, but completely oblivious to the traffic as a result of their smartphone. Also, throughout my revision period, I've been working in the library amongst fellow students who can't focus, because their phone keeps buzzing and tempting them to indulge in some screen time - they're fearful of 'missing out'. Smartphones, social media and messaging are all developing addictions within our 'instant gratification' generation.
Hats off to Banksy, he could not have chosen a more current issue. Aesthetically, I wouldn't necessarily wish to have a black canvas on my wall, but this could serve as a brilliant nationwide campaign against young people socially isolating themselves within social media. When will we realise that the more time we spent sifting through the pages of our hundreds of 'friends', we are losing time with the ones that matter and isolating ourselves from the real world. We must ask ourselves what we are trying to achieve by sharing a photo? Are we trying to share things we've found interesting that our friends may enjoy or are we actually trying to be perceived in a certain light, therefore becoming more and more narcissistic? Is there really anyone listening or is it just the illusion of friendship, which satisfies us now? I know that this pandemic will only worsen as technology develops, but we will be increasingly lonely, despite getting "better" connected? I know I am equally guilty of spending too much time online, but I hope that as more and more people are exposed to Banksy's work they ponder the reality of what it means to be so connected. Finally, I realise it is deeply ironic and somewhat hypocritical to share this video online, but please watch it if you fancy a reality check.
