Author: R.A.

A chronological Banksy retrospective
2023, Exhibitions, Films

Lost BBC interview surfaces from the Turf War show. 21 November 2023

by R.A.

As reported by BBC on 21 November:

The artist – at the time in his 20s – was interviewed by Mr Wrench, a former BBC arts correspondent, in the summer of 2003 to mark the opening of Banksy’s Turf War show in east London. An edited version was aired that July on the BBC’s PM programme. However, not all of the material was used. Many years later, Mr Wrench was listening to The Banksy Story podcast, and this prompted him to recover the full interview on a minidisc in his house.

The never-heard-before interview includes Banksy’s thoughts on his own art, on Charles Saatchi and many other issues. You can listen to it here:

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gtsw3k

The full BBC series “The Banksy Story” can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001nwhs

There is little doubt that the person interviewed by BBC Radio is the same guy with a Bristol accent who was interviewed on camera by ITV reporter Haig Gordon before the opening of Turf War in July 2003 in London:

ITV’s Haig Gordon interviewed Banksy at the Turf War exhibition, July 2003.

Banksy’s unaltered voice in the two interviews above is strikingly similar to the voice of the person presented as Banksy in another BBC interview three years earlier at the Severnshed exhibition in February 2000:

BBC Bristol interviewed Banksy at the Severnshed exhibition, February 2000.

This line of thought in the “Who is Banksy?” mystery is supported by some of the photographs in Steve Lazarides’ book Captured from 2019, especially one on page 154 depicting a Banksy consistent with the alleged Banksy in the resuscitated ITV interview. Whether this person is “one of the Banksys” or “the Banksy” will never be known. The puzzle is part of the overall artistic expression, in which we all play a role.

As Steve Lazarides put it in an interview for the French documentary Most wanted from 2019:

  • “You will never be able to know who Banksy is. At least 50 to 60% of my time was spent trying to keep him anonymous.” 
  • “How?” asked the reporter.
  • “We did all sorts of things; we did fake news stories; we were way ahead of Donald Trump on the fake news. Part of it was putting out fake news stories; I put the website in my name; and lots of other things I’m not going to tell you.”
2023, Exhibitions

Cut & Run breaks box office records, and a tour is confirmed. 27 August 2023

by R.A.

According to Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art, the Cut & Run exhibition attracted 180,000 visitors during its 10-week run. Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-6663225

Team Banksy hinted that when the show opened, they would take it on tour if it “proved popular.” On 26 August, Pest Control Office confirmed that there would be a tour, and they are now soliciting suggestions for locations and venues. Hopefully, this will bring an end to all the touring exhibitions with fakes and reproductions.

2023, Books

New book released at the Glasgow exhibition. 14 June 2023

by R.A.

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.

2023, Exhibitions

Banksy announces new show ‘Cut & Run’ in Glasgow. 14 June 2023

by R.A.

Photo: R.A.

The Scottish newspaper The Herald was first to publish the story:

Banksy unveils Glasgow show spanning 25 years of iconic works

‘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.

Source: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23590216.banksy-unveils-glasgow-show-spanning-25-years-iconic-works/

Banksy has launched a new exclusive website for the exhibition, where one can book tickets: https://cutandrun.co.uk.

Among the stencils: some of his best studio artwork

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)

Banksy’s boy-room

Photos are only permitted in a space after the gift shop, in what is presented as young Banksy’s boy-room:

Banksy’s interest in helicopters started early
Early drawing, signed A.M.W…
Spitfire, signed A.M.W
Lord of the Rings poster by Jimmy Cauty
Magritte poster
There are lots of Christian references in Banksy’s imagery. Maybe it started with young Banksy attending Bible-school on Sundays?

All photos: R.A.

2023, Films, Palestine, The Walled Off Hotel

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd co-produces new documentary on Walled Off Hotel and the Palestine situation. 21 April 2023

by R.A.

As reported by CNN on 21 April 2023:

How Banksy’s Bethlehem hotel inspired celebrity activists to tell the Palestinian story

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

2023, Originals, Palestine, The Walled Off Hotel

New statue at Walled Off Hotel. 25 March 2023

by R.A.

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.

2023, Instagram, UK

Banksy publishes his first story on Instagram. 17 March 2023

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

2023, Street Art, UK

Morning is broken in Herne Bay, Kent. 16 March 2023

by R.A.

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.

Photos: @banksy, and @banksygrossdomesticproduct

2023, Charity, Europe (excl. UK)

Banksy confirms Ukrainian stamp. 27 February 2023

by R.A.

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. 

2023, Street Art, UK

Valentine’s Day mascara mural. Margate, 14 February 2023

by R.A.

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.