Review of Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) by Nick C — 23 Feb 2015

This documentary initially seems just like an expose on the artists behind the punk rock art, but truly it's about a crazy individual who could just be crazy like a fox. Thierry obsessively films everything all the time, and the artist's work has such a short lifespan they're happy to have some documentation before it gets painted over and torn down. With thousands of hours of footage Thierry claims to be making documentary, but in actuality everything he captures ends up becoming a documentary about Thierry.

As art goes from punk rock to collector's editions and the very thing these people were being arrested for is now selling for thousands of dollars, Thierry goes from dimwit to genius. The entire process puts the concept of art into question. Like Ed Wood or Tommy Wiseau his passionate effort becomes camp and his peers think he's just a lucky idiot.

Some parts of this doc work out a little too perfectly in the narrative and one wonders if he's a concoction of Banksy and Shepard Fairey. This has been debated ever since the movie came out, but never substantiated. So giving the benefit of the doubt that this is a true story how do we evaluate these artists work? If someone cares enough to create does that simply make it art? Or do we need collectors to spend millions on it in a gallery for it to be a valid thing. So far as I can tell ART is the value in and of itself. The commerce of art is the joke, because life is fleeting n' shit.

Anyway while we're on the subject, if you live in Chicago I highly recommend Cole's Bar on a Wednesday night (when they have some decent open mic comedy). You'll see some interesting local art displays in the main bar, and some grungy street art in the bathroom. Best of all, you'll see that 'fuck it' attitude all over.