some sort of Banksy retrospective
The new book, Cut & Run, 25 years of card labour, has the same mixture of fantastic imagery and witty texts full of insights as Wall and Piece from 2005. As the title indicates, the content covers the exhibition, and it gives us a unique ‘behind the scenes’ view of Banksy’s almost 28 years of doing illegal street art. It seems like the book is only available at the Cut & Run exhibition.
Photo: R.A.
The Scottish newspaper The Herald was first to publish the story:
‘CUT & RUN’, which has been officially authorised by Banksy, will reveal for the first time the stencils used to create many of the artist’s most iconic works. Spanning from 1988 to the present day, Banksy calls the exhibition, which includes authentic artefacts, ephemera and the artist’s actual toilet, ‘25 years card labour’.
“I’ve kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage. But that moment seems to have passed, so now I’m exhibiting them in a gallery as works of art. I’m not sure which is the greater crime”, the artist told The Herald.
The new exhibition is being staged at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Glasgow city centre, the main gallery of contemporary art in Scotland’s largest city. Opening this Sunday, it will run for three months and open all night at weekends. The Herald understands that if the exhibition proves popular, the show may then tour.
Banksy has launched a new exclusive website for the exhibition, where one can book tickets: https://cutandrun.co.uk.
The main exhibition hall has an exquisite display of some of Banksy’s most iconic stencils, as well as some unique ‘indoor’ artwork. Although the main exhibition hall does not allow photography, the exhibition features, among others, the following studio pieces:
From top to bottom: Rodney King – canvas, 2011. The Simpsons – canvas, 2010. The Venice Biennale – Multiple canvases, 2017. The Stormzy stab-proof vest, 2019. David engulfed in a cloud of teargas, 2017 (sourced from Walled Off Hotel)
Photos are only permitted in a space after the gift shop, in what is presented as young Banksy’s boy-room:
All photos: R.A.
As reported by CNN on 21 April 2023:
A group of celebrity activists are trying to destigmatize being Palestinian, telling the human stories of an oppressed nation in a new documentary. The documentary “Walled Off,” takes its title from a hotel owned by anonymous British street artist Banksy in the biblical city of Bethlehem. Located a few steps from Israel’s imposing separation barrier that runs through the occupied West Bank, it bills itself as the hotel with the “worst view in the world.”
Inside, the walls are decorated with Banksy’s artwork depicting satirical views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also has a museum dedicated to informing visitors about the separation wall and providing historical context on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is that use of art to tell the story of a people struggling for freedom that inspired the star-studded team to make the documentary, they tell CNN.
Film director and producer Vin Arfuso joined forces with model and musician Anwar Hadid, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, and Kweku Mandela, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela, to tell the story of what it’s like living under Israeli occupation. Waters has been a years-long advocate for Palestinian rights but has stirred controversy at times, with some critics accusing him of antisemitism. He has rejected that, saying his antipathy is toward Israel’s government, not the Jewish people. The film cuts between scenes from the hotel and historical footage of the decades-long conflict, detailing events the filmmakers say have been misrepresented by the media.
The CNN feature on the documentary: https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/banksy-hotel-palestinian-documentary-mime-intl/index.html
The trailer to the film can seen here: https://www.walledoff.org
A statue of Shakespeare with a Hamlet-inspired twist has replaced one of the Walled Off Hotel collection’s most recognisable pieces, David engulfed in a cloud of tear gas. Whether David has been sold or taken away for restoration is unclear. The Shakespeare statue has reportedly stood in the WOH offices for some time. Pictures of Shakespeare were published on Facebook on March 25 by Walled Off Hotel visitor Jesse Zuefle.
Above, the Shakespeare statue, photos by Jesse Zuefle. Below, David in a cloud of teargas, photo by R.A.
In a brilliant performance, an unknown poet in the style of John Cooper Clarke recites a poem on the theme “Gentrification is coming because there is a Banksy in Margate now”, accompanied by a guy in a wig on a distorted guitar. Apparently, the clip was filmed during an open mic session at a pub in Margate. The clip can be seen at https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5WlIWP4e6/
Photos: @banksy
The artwork appeared on the side of a derelict farmhouse in the seaside town of Herne Bay, only 20 km from Margate, where he did Valentine’s Day mascara a month ago. The demolition of the house, including the mural, can be interpreted in many ways.
The Ukrainian Post Office issued a postage stamp on 20 February featuring a Banksy mural depicting a boy defeating Putin in judo to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion. On 27 February, Banksy confirmed the postage stamp on his Instagram.
You can buy them here: https://postmark.ukrposhta.ua/index.php?route=common/home. The edition is 1.5 million, and the price is € 4.68 per sheet of six stamps. You can also buy postcards and envelopes with the same motif.
Photos: @banksy
The Valentine’s Day mascara mural appeared in Margate, 100 km east of London, on Tuesday morning, 14 February. The Guardian reported on the dismantling of the artwork the same day:
“A Banksy artwork that was dismantled by a council in Kent “on the grounds of safety” just hours after its unveiling has had its chest freezer returned. The mural, titled Valentine’s Day Mascara, appeared to highlight the issue of domestic violence. It incorporated a freezer, a broken garden chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle, which were all removed from the site on Tuesday.”
Why a domestic violence motive on Valentine’s Day? It could have something to do with the big street art exhibition Beyond the Streets at the Saatchi Gallery in London, which opened on 17 February and featured more than 50 of Banksy’s colleagues, among them Shepard Fairey and 3D. As we all know, advertising tycoon Charles Saatchi is the founder and owner of Saatchi Gallery, and Banksy’s views on the advertising industry are well known through his artwork and writings. In 2013, writer Nigella Lawson broke up with Charles Saatchi amidst well-publicised accusations of domestic violence.
In his own words:
“I’ve made 50 of these screenprints with all proceeds going to our friends in Ukraine. Visit banksy.legacyofwarfoundation.com”
It’s a signed and hand-finished print in an edition of 50. The price is GBP 5,000 plus taxes; the market value is, of course, much higher.
One can sign up here to participate in the lottery: https://banksy.legacyofwarfoundation.com. All proceeds go to the Legacy of War Foundation, an ONG that helps Ukrainians with medical supplies and other humanitarian equipment.
“In Ukraine I saw a Legacy of War team sweep in and provide medical attention, heaters, fresh water and a friendly face to some very desperate people in a bombed out building. They also lent me one of their ambulances to work from, which turned out to be extremely useful when an angry babushka found me painting on her building and called the Police. I feel the least I should do is raise enough money to replace the number plates on the ambulance I hotted up..” — Banksy
Fashion retailer GUESS was forced to shut its Regent Street outlet on 18 November, a few hours after Banksy posted the following message on Instagram: “They’ve helped themselves to my artwork without asking, how can it be wrong for you to do the same to their clothes?”
In November 2022, Guess announced its collaboration with Brandalised, a company that specialises in licensing popular images to international retailers. This wretched use of Banksy’s art is possible thanks to an unfavourable ruling at the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) in May 2021.
Photos: @banksy and http://www.guess.com
Banksy unofficial 