If I were to ask the question: "Can you please name me a piece of art?" Would the answer not be, "Ah of course, The Mona Lisa?" Five hundred years old but still living on, how has the much acclaimed renaissance portrait of the Mona Lisa become controversial street art of Banksy. Where has art derived from, but more importantly how has it found its way onto the walls of our cities, from hangings in galleries? The historical art known as the Mona Lisa created by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1503 is suggested to have become one of the worlds most famous pieces of art. It is because of this fact that the Mona Lisa has transformed from just a piece of art ,to a symbol, recognised around the world. However, she is a symbol therefore she must symbolise something; in my opinion, she was not created for this purpose, but has developed into the character of mankind as a whole, representing each and everyone of us. Reason for this, without going into too much detail is the mystery that surrounds her, but also intrigues us, 500 years on from her birth, I think is a strong metaphor for how we as humans live our lives. We are always living for tomorrow. Trying to understand the misunderstood. Anyway, lets get back to the art. The symbol of the Mona Lisa has been regenerated in different art movements throughout history until present day. 
The Dada movement, a movement arising in reaction to World War 1. It was thought that the war was generated because of the growth in the capitalist society at the time. Dada was basically protesting against war through art by embracing irrationality. A movement of expression and questioning, actually labelled anti-art. this movement rose a lot questions about the Mona Lisa and its place in art. "No longer appreciated as a painting, but instead, commodified on postcards, posters and coffee mugs. Marcel Duchamp took a reproduction of Da Vinci's painting, and drew a moustache and goatee on her face. Duchamp's audacity became a Dada statement." ( Susan Stamberg, www.npr.org ) As quoted here the Mona Lisa has moved from the walls of galleries onto the side of mugs. The Dada movement basically opposed this and stated that if it is art then why have it plastered to everything as merchandise? Is the Mona Lisa now a brand? An identity of art as a whole? They feared this and reacted against it trying to make a mockery of the Mona Lisa. Ironically, the Dada Mona Lisa created in 1919 titled L.H.O.O.Q, which if said in French very fast means 'she has a nice arse,' became just as iconic for what it had represented and then found itself back onto mugs and postcards. This supports my opinion that the Mona Lisa is now a symbolic icon representing mankind. It was confronted, however has adapted to the change and accepted it. 
Turning the statement back into a piece of art. This raises the question: Is art what we make it? The next significant appropriation of the Mona Lisa was by Andy Warhol within the Pop Art era. His so called style was mainly silk screen prints symbolizing iconic figures and objects. Therefore Mona Lisa was an obvious symbol in which he could add his own brand to by creating many different versions of the print using a range of contrasting colours. One could state that he was trying to regenerate the Mona Lisa for the pop art era or simply just attaching his own mark to this iconic piece to pocket a bit of money. Either, or both, the Mona Lisa had now been used yet again to generalise a time within art, that being Pop Art. Ultimately, hangings in galleries is now becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays, we don't need to pay so we can stand and look at the Mona Lisa hanging there, while we wonder what it is all about. Literally just take a trip around London, Bristol or maybe Brighton, along with many other places where underground sub culture artist Banksy has decided that art, no longer belongs in galleries but on the walls of our streets communicating its messages to anyone who happens to pass by. 
Now I understand there is big controversy surrounding the classification of Graffiti. However, my personal opinion is that if it communicates something in one way or another, whether it is in a gallery, on the street, or anywhere as a matter of fact then how can it not be classed as art. Ignorance has stopped some of us from moving along with the times in art just like in technology. Whether you agree or not Banksy has made his mark and yet again produced the latest of the Mona Lisa installations. Spray-paint, a graffiti artists pen or brush is Banksy's choice of media. Stencilling for him, is silk screen prints for Andy Warhol. Just like Andy, he has his own style, creating his own significant mark in the present times of today's art progression. His Mona Lisa holding a rocket launcher protests the politics at the time. As I said before, the Mona Lisa is now a symbol representing mankind. Now by giving this symbol a rocket launcher Banksy is questioning war, because the Mona Lisa is symbolising all of us which contributing to the beginning of war, maybe due to the capitalist society we live in today. This relates back to the Dada movement where the art created was in reaction to the war started by a high rise in capitalism. However, Banksy has identified the Mona Lisa as a powerful symbol within art and has used it to visually communicate strong political and questionably ethical issues. In conclusion the Mona Lisa has effectively turned into a symbol communicating different messages visually universally. In each instance I have outlined, she has been used to promote different opinions however because she is such an icon, recognition in each instance allows the consumer to adapt the symbol to the situation at that time. Consequently, resulting in mixed belongings, where the world famous while controversially infamous Mona Lisa is concerned.
The Dada movement, a movement arising in reaction to World War 1. It was thought that the war was generated because of the growth in the capitalist society at the time. Dada was basically protesting against war through art by embracing irrationality. A movement of expression and questioning, actually labelled anti-art. this movement rose a lot questions about the Mona Lisa and its place in art. "No longer appreciated as a painting, but instead, commodified on postcards, posters and coffee mugs. Marcel Duchamp took a reproduction of Da Vinci's painting, and drew a moustache and goatee on her face. Duchamp's audacity became a Dada statement." ( Susan Stamberg, www.npr.org ) As quoted here the Mona Lisa has moved from the walls of galleries onto the side of mugs. The Dada movement basically opposed this and stated that if it is art then why have it plastered to everything as merchandise? Is the Mona Lisa now a brand? An identity of art as a whole? They feared this and reacted against it trying to make a mockery of the Mona Lisa. Ironically, the Dada Mona Lisa created in 1919 titled L.H.O.O.Q, which if said in French very fast means 'she has a nice arse,' became just as iconic for what it had represented and then found itself back onto mugs and postcards. This supports my opinion that the Mona Lisa is now a symbolic icon representing mankind. It was confronted, however has adapted to the change and accepted it. 
Turning the statement back into a piece of art. This raises the question: Is art what we make it? The next significant appropriation of the Mona Lisa was by Andy Warhol within the Pop Art era. His so called style was mainly silk screen prints symbolizing iconic figures and objects. Therefore Mona Lisa was an obvious symbol in which he could add his own brand to by creating many different versions of the print using a range of contrasting colours. One could state that he was trying to regenerate the Mona Lisa for the pop art era or simply just attaching his own mark to this iconic piece to pocket a bit of money. Either, or both, the Mona Lisa had now been used yet again to generalise a time within art, that being Pop Art. Ultimately, hangings in galleries is now becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays, we don't need to pay so we can stand and look at the Mona Lisa hanging there, while we wonder what it is all about. Literally just take a trip around London, Bristol or maybe Brighton, along with many other places where underground sub culture artist Banksy has decided that art, no longer belongs in galleries but on the walls of our streets communicating its messages to anyone who happens to pass by. 
Now I understand there is big controversy surrounding the classification of Graffiti. However, my personal opinion is that if it communicates something in one way or another, whether it is in a gallery, on the street, or anywhere as a matter of fact then how can it not be classed as art. Ignorance has stopped some of us from moving along with the times in art just like in technology. Whether you agree or not Banksy has made his mark and yet again produced the latest of the Mona Lisa installations. Spray-paint, a graffiti artists pen or brush is Banksy's choice of media. Stencilling for him, is silk screen prints for Andy Warhol. Just like Andy, he has his own style, creating his own significant mark in the present times of today's art progression. His Mona Lisa holding a rocket launcher protests the politics at the time. As I said before, the Mona Lisa is now a symbol representing mankind. Now by giving this symbol a rocket launcher Banksy is questioning war, because the Mona Lisa is symbolising all of us which contributing to the beginning of war, maybe due to the capitalist society we live in today. This relates back to the Dada movement where the art created was in reaction to the war started by a high rise in capitalism. However, Banksy has identified the Mona Lisa as a powerful symbol within art and has used it to visually communicate strong political and questionably ethical issues. In conclusion the Mona Lisa has effectively turned into a symbol communicating different messages visually universally. In each instance I have outlined, she has been used to promote different opinions however because she is such an icon, recognition in each instance allows the consumer to adapt the symbol to the situation at that time. Consequently, resulting in mixed belongings, where the world famous while controversially infamous Mona Lisa is concerned.
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