The Webby Awards, which were revealed yesterday in New York, have named the Street Artist Banksy as its 2014 winner. He will be now be honoured as Webby Person of the Year, at the 18th annual ceremony on May 19th, 2014 in New York City. Judges picked this year’s winners from among around 12,000 entries from 50 US states and more than 60 countries internationally.
Banksy’s New York residency “Better Out Than In” which took place in the autumn of 2013, captivated New York and, via the Internet, the world at large. All told, Banksy debuted 31 pieces of original art – on garage doors, inside and outside moving trucks, at construction sights, and even on an ant hill – unveiling one new project a day during the month of October across all five boroughs of New York City. But in addition to the striking artwork itself – which ranged from performance art and street theatre to graffiti and old-fashioned hoaxes – what was notable about the residency was that for most it existed exclusively online. The majority of Banksy’s projects were either torn down, stolen, or defaced minutes after they were unveiled. But the residency, though physical in every way, came to life on the Web. 350,000 people followed Banksy’s one-month, one-picture-a-day Instagram account, while many more followed the roving exhibit on Foursquare and posted photos and videos to Tumblr, Vine, YouTube, and Twitter.
“Better Out Than In” was a residency of stunning proportion, not only for the exquisiteness of the collection itself, but for its unabashed impermanence: as the physical works disappeared, the digital versions multiplied.
Banksy will be honored as Webby Person of the year at the 18th Annual Webby Awards on May 19th at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, Interactive Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile & Apps, and Social. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Microsoft, Dell, Vitamin T, Leica, MailChimp, Engine Yard, Funny or Die, AdAge, Percolate, BuzzFeed, Mashable, HLN, Business Insider, Creative Bloq, Lurzer’s Archive, Tubefilter, Internet Week New York and Guardian News and Media.
Reflecting the tremendous growth of the Internet as a tool for business and everyday lives, the 18th Annual Webby Awards expands the mission of the Webby by honoring excellence in Websites, Interactive Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile & App, and Social Web.