Off The Wall

By Carrie Miller

A few months ago plumbers installing new pipes in a building in Melbourne accidentally destroyed a stencilled image of a parachuting rat. Once no one would have cared; now most people know that’s like putting a hole in the Mona Lisa while trying to fix an air conditioning unit in The Louvre. Syndicate @ Danks exploits the continued craze for street art with Off The Wall, a group exhibition which includes the work of world famous graffiti artist Banksy whose work was lost forever thanks to a bunch of Aussie tradies.

For fans of Banksy who saw his documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, an added bonus is the inclusion of works by the film’s subject, LA-based French artist Mr Brainwash. Also participating are internationally successful Australian ‘street’ artists such as Ben Frost and Anthony Lister, which provides audiences with an opportunity to evaluate the quality of local work against its overseas equivalent.

Bringing art off the street and into the gallery comes at a price. Some say it destroys its very essence; others, including Madonna and Brad Pitt say, ‘who do I make the cheque out to?’ Off the Wall gives you a great opportunity to either moralise about its commodification or purchase a cool piece of art.

Until September 29

Syndicate @ Danks, Waterloo