Banksy's revolution stars in Rome show

(ANSA) - Rome, May 24 - A show by contemporary street artist Banksy titled 'War, Capitalism & Freedom' opened in Rome on Tuesday.
    The exhibit features 150 paintings, sculptures, stencils, record covers and rare objects - some of them never displayed in public before - on loan from private collections, and is on view at Palazzo Cipolla through September 4.
    Banksy - whose real identity remains a mystery - has made a name for him or herself by bringing attention to the world's most pressing issues, including the ongoing exodus of refugees fleeing wars in Syria and elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East.
    The artist - possibly born in Bristol in the UK - has been at large since the 1990s, trying to unveil the deceptiveness of society at all levels.
    The elusive artist's work reminds entire generations who believe they have lived in a long period of peace and equality that wars have never stopped bloodying nations and entire continents with weapons produced by western countries.
    S/he also looks at the progressive impoverishment and marginalization of medium and low-income families in the face of increasingly aggressive capitalism.
    One of the artist's favorite images is that of rats, which he has stenciled and painted on the walls of London, Paris and New York - these reviled creatures that can bring entire civilizations to their knees embody the millions who are treated like derelicts by society yet have a great destructive power.
    Little monkeys hold banners reading, "laugh today, because one day we will be in charge".
    All the best-known series will be on display at the War, Capitalism & Freedom show, thanks to preparatory work by curators and organizers that lasted two years. The show was put together by the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro Italia e Mediterraneo. Among the foundation's other projects is 'Big City Life', which turned Rome's low-income and outlying Tor Marancia neighborhood into a cult destination for visitors from around the world thanks to its street art.
    Terzo Pilastro collaborated on the Banksy show with 999Contemporary, a private non-profit institution dedicated to the study and development of contemporary urban events.