Russian Street Artist Pavel 183 Is Compared To Britain's Banksy (VIDEO)

"Aggressive. Defiant. Surprising... and invariably witty," says the BBC commentator in the video above about Pavel 183, the mysterious Russian artist who is now being called "Russia's Banksy."

Pavel 183 took the BBC on a tour of his illegal outdoor gallery. Wearing a balaclava, the street artist explains, "I don't like a lot of things in Russian politics, in the politics of Putin." Watch the video to see the artist in action as he stencils political messages on the pavement or spray paints figures on abandoned concrete slabs. His large-scale work is hard to ignore. You can see more images of the provocative artist's work over at Laughing Squid here.

What do you think, readers? Does Pavel 183's work compare to Banksy's?

Comments

[Sraige]

03:18 AM on 02/16/2012

Pavel needs more experience. He is O.K, not bad. Great? Is Banksy.
Banksy promotes the message, not himself, that's why he tries to avoid any exposure.
Pavel promotes the message and himself by shooting videos of himself. Pavel's art styles and ideas vary. Pavel didn't find himself yet. He imitates Banksy and who knows whom.
Banksy's style is Banksy's.

[london72]

06:08 PM on 02/14/2012

Why do You think the Video's blocked!!! Pavel 183 will be on my FB and many people will talk about his art, You just can't stop that!!!!!

[honkinghorse]

08:07 PM on 02/10/2012

I hope he will not end up in the stupid criminal section after this exposure.
Good job though, he's not afraid or is Russsia not as scarry as we are led to believe?

[garystartswithg]

09:32 PM on 02/10/2012

How scary do you think Russia is? The red scare and pink scare were a whole lot of lies. Communism and socialism are not so great when they fall into the hands of naughty men -- like Stalin. Putin is no Stalin, the United States has plenty of politicians on par with Putin. Michael Bloomberg, Rick Scott, and Scott Walker come to mind. People that enrich themselves off other people's misery -- guess that is just about everyone. China, which you support by buying junk, is much, much worse. The countries where the United States spreads "freedom" -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen -- are all much, much worse.

[Rex Devious]

07:43 PM on 02/10/2012

Weird, we're both wearing the same thing.

As someone who goes around wearing a gas mask and goggles, this is not something that happens to me a lot.

[Nick SketchCat Wilson]

12:47 PM on 02/12/2012

If you work around harmful fumes it does.

[beerbagger]

07:30 PM on 02/10/2012

Blu... does the whole building inside, out and more. They're all kinda the same.

http://blublu.org/

[Estevan Benson]

06:54 PM on 02/10/2012

Real artists don't ask for permission.

[PictureMeQuoting]

08:51 PM on 02/10/2012

You're right. Real artists commission unknowns to do work for them then steal all the credit.

[colin72]

09:11 PM on 02/10/2012

No, real artists hire a group of talented artists to execute their ideas and make all of the money... Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst.

[Nick SketchCat Wilson]

12:58 PM on 02/12/2012

I'd argue there's no such thing as a fake artist.

[BeachWar]

06:53 PM on 02/10/2012

The Glasses were awesome. I like it.

[Bruckley]

06:49 PM on 02/10/2012

Who is Banksy?

[thunder405]

07:24 PM on 02/10/2012

The Monopoly guy.

[colin72]

09:13 PM on 02/10/2012

A street artist from Bristol named Robin Gunningham... but that's a "big secret" so don't tell anyone.

[JCleveland]

06:39 PM on 02/10/2012

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Everyone did it who became great or meaningful artist. Every great artist also added something new to it. This qualifies. It doesn't matter if it has influences as long as it pushes it forward. No one wandered out of the forest a fully fledged, successful artist before they met another human being.

[EatMeSF]

06:31 PM on 02/10/2012

I believe it's clear that he has his own unique style and is amazing....

[badger2196]

05:46 PM on 02/10/2012

Why compare - why not just admire it for itself?

[VeggieLove]

07:10 PM on 02/10/2012

Love the comment:)

[Jambala99]

05:40 PM on 02/10/2012

Great work!

[Boston 019]

05:39 PM on 02/10/2012

aaaaaaaaaaand it's Steve Jobs' zombie!

[dochemlock]

05:11 PM on 02/10/2012

He seems to have incorporated Banksy's rats.

[Ladybug50]

07:21 PM on 02/10/2012

I noticed that, too. Some of his art has a definite Banksy flavor.

[colin72]

09:14 PM on 02/10/2012

And Banksy stole Blek Le Rat's rats. Look it up.

[PlutocratsSuck]

05:08 PM on 02/10/2012

He's no Banksy. Then again, Banksy is no Banksy.