Banksy image: discosalt.com

Has anyone seen British street art icon Banksy’s film-cum-tangled-web-of-performance-art-and-irony, “Exit Through the Gift Shop”? Nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards this year, there’s one question on everyone’s mind: If he wins, will the masked man himself show up to accept the award?

Banksy image: tvtropes.org

Considering the fact that he has successfully concealed his identity for the better part of 20 years, it seems unlikely. There’s speculation that if he were to make an appearance, it would be in his disguise of choice: a bug-eyed monkey mask that he has been known to wear in films and photographs.

Bansky image: dailymail.co.uk

For an artist who has made his mark by illegally painting public spaces and installing controversial pieces of art throughout the world, the stakes are high. With the acclaim of the Academy could come unwanted legal repercussions, not to mention a major disruption of his undercover art hijinks. It’s hard to blame the fellow for being a bit shy – his whole shtick is at stake, after all.

Banksy image: chrisrossartandfilm.com

One thing is clear: the Academy just doesn’t get it. The New York Times Blog reports that representatives from the annual Hollywood event felt that having the artist on stage in costume would be “undignified.” Maybe they didn’t watch the film?

Banksy image: thecitrusreport.com

If movie makers are still calling themselves “artists”, one would think that they’d be a bit more accommodating to their brethren.

Regardless, we’ll all find out together on Oscar night, Sunday, February 27th. Keep your eyes peeled for a ‘monkey’ on the red carpet.