## Step 2 - Reading

Banksy

You are going to read a text about the mysterious street artist Banksy.

- Scan the text and do exercise 1.
- Read the text again and do exercises 2 and 3.

Scannen Scannen betekent snel lezen om afzonderlijke woorden, feiten, data, namen of details op te zoeken. Je let hierbij dus vooral op woorden geschreven met hoofdletters en getallen.

Banksy: The Mysterious Street Artist Banksy is a famous artist known for creating amazing and thought-provoking art on the streets of cities around the world. However, Banksy's true identity remains a well-kept secret. Let's learn more about this mysterious and talented artist. 1 _______ Banksy is a street artist who comes from England. He is famous for his unique and clever artworks that often include stencils and spray paint. What makes Banksy so special is that he doesn't paint in art galleries. Instead, he paints on the walls and buildings in cities. This means that anyone, no matter their background, can see his art for free. Banksy's artistic journey began in the early 1990s, with his first notable works emerging in the Bristol area around 1992. This means that Banksy has been active as a street artist for over three decades, contributing to the urban art scene for a significant period of time. 2 _______ Banksy's art often carries a strong message. He uses his work to comment on important social and political issues, such as war, poverty, and environmental problems. For example, one of his famous artworks is an image of a girl letting go of a balloon, which symbolizes hope and freedom. He painted this piece of art in 2002, on the walls under Waterloo Bridge. 3 _______ Banksy is very secretive about his identity. He always wears a disguise when he is in public and has never shown his face in public. This secrecy adds to his mystique and makes people even more curious about him. Banksy has probably been active for about 30 years, which make it even more amazing that he’s still anonymous. 4 _______ Banksy's art has gained international fame. People from all over the world visit the places where his artworks are located. Some of his most famous works can be found in cities like London, New York, and Paris. Tourists and art lovers try to find and take pictures of his art. As of this moment, he has probably made well over 60 pieces of art. 5 _______ One of the most amazing things about Banksy is that his art is accessible to everyone. You don't need to go to a fancy museum to see it. Just walk down the streets of a city, and you might stumble upon one of his creations. His art makes people think about important issues and sparks conversations.