Probably the most famous and current artist of unverified origin today is Banksy. He is known for his satirical street art and graffiti. He uses his art as a statement on political and social events. And a lot of authorities want to find out who he is.

Until now, no one knows what he really looks like. But according to reports, some artists now do not want to be famous. For the past few years, it looks like more and more artists are shying away from the spot light.

These artists do not want the burden of being famous and they do so by not revealing their names or identities, as reported by the Daily Sabah. And Banksy is just one of them. Elena Ferrante who is considered to be one of the greatest novelists of our time has written a book titled "The Story of the Lost Child."

But the author is writing under a pseudonym, as reported by Vanity Fair. She decided to free herself from being famous and the urge to be with other famous people. Now, Ferrante feels liberated.

Another French novelist is writing under the pseudonym Joseph Andras. He won an award for writing a book but he rejected the award because it threatened his identity. He wishes to remain anonymous.

However, artists like Banksy, Ferrante and Andras have made their anonymity more famous because the media is obsessed in finding out who they really are.

According to an American literature professor from the Georgia Institute of Technology, by wanting to remain anonymous, these artists are in a way challenging journalists and the media to discover who they really are.

Stephane Hugon, a sociologist at the Sorbonne University in Paris, said that what these artists are doing is an act of resistance during a time where people are obsessed with transparency and celebrities.

Hugon explained that if people find out who Elena Ferrante is, people may get disappointed.

BBC News previously covered a Banksy artwork that criticises the apparent use of teargas on refugees. Watch the video below:

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Topics Journalism, English Literature, Writing, Celebrity