Having such an avant-garde artist as an author, the citation painted just off the 7 train between 68th Street and 38th Avenue, had to be a mixture of ancestral knowledge and modernity. As a member of royalty, Queens deserved nothing less than a variation of a quote from Marcus Aurelius, one of the Roman emperors: “What we do now echoes in Eternity.” On the other side, to point out the innovation, Banksy decided to steal the twist from General Maximus in Gladiator “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” The line is delivered in a speech to soldiers on the brink of a battle with a barbarian horde. Indeed, very inspirational not only for warriors but also for passengers boarding the 7 train. In fact, the only big detail that is totally a work of Banksy’s authorship is a gray stencil of a man erasing this piece with a sponge.
Banksy’s commentary on his website about the 14th NYC piece of pop art can give a hint to the message behind it:
“Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit lowbrow (this quote is from ‘Gladiator’) but you know what? “I’m just going to use that hostility to make me stronger, not weaker” as Kelly Rowland said on the X Factor.’”
Perhaps Banksy is criticizing the fact that people find great inspiration for their most precious treasure – their life – in some trivial things such as movies, or TV shows. Consequently, that simplicity translates into fleeting moments that are easily gone. Actually, eternity is a really long time and to stand firm you have to go above the average. And, even doing so, you’re at great risk of being forgotten. Do you want a real example? Graffiti. This kind of art is meat to be ephemeral even when it’s created by an outstanding artist such as Banksy.
by Daniela Ferraz
finding bksy 