POTW #2

Titled “Banksy™ Met Ball”. Created by an anonymous artist named “Banksy”.

Using the 4-Stage critical analysis method to examine this piece, Its appearance and significance below.

Part 1–Describe:

On first glance there is a riot helmet with the protective shell covered with a disco-ball’s mirrors. The background is completely white, with the helmet itself mainly being a dark black or gray, except for the full-face, transparent ballistic shield that can be lifted above the user’s face via two rather large screws (likely nearly as large as a thumbprint). The shield appears to have been kicked or punched, or possible even pushed to the ground judging by the various scuff marks and dirt at the bottom and top lip of the face shield. Atop the face shield is a white box, in which a mid-value blue, and two to three finger wide, 40’s London-Subway-esque text reads “Police”. A dirtied rubber seal lines the edges of the helmet, seemingly on the edge of most of the helmet. By the cheek pads, this rubber is coated in powdery dirt. Along the top of the face-shield is a black, curved bar with bolts that secures the shield. From the picture there are 4 visible bolts, separated by a little over what appears to be an index finger’s length. These bolts and the curving bar itself are slightly rusted, and have visible scuff marks. It looks like it had been scratched by an aggressor. There are bolts (uncovered by the disco ball’s mirrors) on the bottom of the back of the helmet, securing a neck cover which appears to be stitched-leather, with spots of powdery dirt on it. The chin straps appear to be some type of fabric, with a large, plastic or rubber piece (which is also dark black and gray) on the end that curves to the bottom curve of a chin. There appears to be dirt in the seams where it was molded, but it overall has little visible wear. At the top of the helmet is a large rod, with a ring inserted through to top, with a chain connected to that ring, presumably to mount a discoball from the ceiling. It appears from the dirt that the helmet had been in some-kind of dispute of attack, as mentioned earlier, but from an on-the-surface view, there is no clear reason for how or why the disco ball’s mirrors are covering the shell of the helmet.

Part 2–Analyse

Upon close examination, there is a continuous repetition along the shell of the helmet. Each mirror is roughly a square or rectangle in lines. Each line is slightly over from the other, and no mirror is exactly alike. Besides the relative smoothness and cleanliness of the mirrors, the helmet itself is rough. The smooth mirrors sit atop a hard and likely coarse surface, which gives support to fabric that is hardened, stiff, and rough to the touch, with solid bolts and a solid face shield that are smooth at a glance but jagged and bumpy when touched. The leather neck shield jutting from the back also appears hardened. A once relatively soft surface turned hard and coarse. Aside from the mirrors, most of the materials on this helmet appear smooth but are actually rough and “unwelcoming” to the touch.

Part 3–Interpert.

To be honest, this artwork could be seen to have multiple, equally possible meanings. It evokes a very confrontational feeling, given the nature of the police helmet, but also a feeling of impending doom, with the partying of the disco-ball and rioting of the police helmet being combined together. The main idea I took from this helmet is that looking into the face of an officer at a protest or riot is like looking straight back at yourself. Under the helmet is another husband, son, mother, father, etc. When you look at them from a distance, they also seem put together, and they look strong, even smooth. But when you get close you see the tatters they truly are in. The age, and the dirt they have been coated in reveals a lifetime of hardship, and triumph–but triumph that is only awarded by difficult, dirty, in your-face struggles, but despite this, when they “land their face in the dirt”, they are hung up high for all to see, hence the inclusion of the chain at the top. The artist makes you think less about the protesters or rioters and more about the people who have to go in and keep each side as civil as possible, and how underneath the helmet they are just like anybody else. I am very curious whether the artist agrees with that interpretation.

4-Judge

The attention to detail of this art is impressive. It is clear a lot of passion was put into this piece, and each detail meant something to the creator(s). The main strengths are clarity and textures. The rows of mirrors point right back to you, and the look of softness but truly rough edge throw ideas right into your face about this piece. It is bold and unapologetic, and confrontational. Still, I wouldn’t hang it in my room. It is too polarizing and aggressive to be put onto casual display. It is so bold some may not appreciate it for what it is. However, it is an excellent time capsule for those who want to study early 2000’s culture, and the prolonged tensions between common-people and law enforcement.