Girl seized by an ATM 2008

Banksy's "Girl seized by an ATM" is made with spray paint and stencils, that archetypal street art combo! It's all about speed and directness, getting the message out there with as little fuss as possible. I love the graphic punch of the black and white. It's stark, almost like a woodcut, and that lends a real gravity to the image. The girl, so small, embracing this hulking machine... it hits you right in the gut. And that ATM - it's so matter-of-fact, so everyday. Yet, in Banksy's hands, it becomes this symbol of something bigger, something a little sinister. Street art is cool because it's about the here and now, that moment of seeing. You know, like Barbara Kruger. But, with Banksy, it's always a bit more sly, a bit more punk. It's a reminder that art isn't just in museums. It's all around us, waiting to be discovered, debated, and maybe even painted over tomorrow.