Author: R.A.

A chronological Banksy retrospective
2019, Exhibitions, Gross Domestic Product, UK

Gross Domestic Product. Croydon, 1 October 2019

by R.A.

The pop-up show opened on 1 October on Church Street in Croydon, just a few miles south of London. If Dismaland was Banksy’s caricature of an amusement park, Gross Domestic Product is Banksy’s caricature of consumer society and shopping hysteria.

The reason for opening the store is not only artistic: There is a trademark dispute between Banksy and a greeting card company that uses the Banksy brand while selling products featuring Banksy motifs. According to DACS (the not-for-profit visual artists’ rights management organisation in the UK) chairman and media lawyer Mark Stephens: “the law clearly states that if the trademark holder is not using the mark, then it should be handed to someone who will.” The apparent solution: create a merchandise range and open a shop.

In Banksy’s own words:

“Everything in the store “has been created specifically to fulfill a particular trademark category under EU law”, Banksy says. “I had the legal sheet pinned up in the studio like a muse.” He adds: “John Lennon said: ‘I’m an artist, give me a tuba and I’ll get something out of it.’ I feel the same way about a trademark dispute.”

The items on display are on sale on the website www.grossdomesticproduct.com. A lottery system will likely be implemented for allocation purposes.

Photos: R.A.

The official GDP – trailer:

Art appreciation in the Cronx / Banksyfilm

ITV News did a feature on the GDP exhibition in Croydon:

2019, Instagram, Street Art, UK

Banksy reveals planned update for Brexit mural in Dover. 13 September 2019

by R.A.

The anti-Brexit mural was initially painted in May 2017. On 25 August 2019, massive scaffolding was raised over the mural. On 10 September, the scaffolding was taken down, and the piece of art was gone. It is unclear whether the painting has been removed from the wall or whitewashed. A few days later, Banksy published his plans for the mural on the day of Brexit.

In his own words:

“Oh. I had planned that on the day of Brexit I was going to change the piece in Dover to this.. But seems they’ve painted over it. Nevermind. I guess a big white flag says it just as well.”

The lone craftsman and the flag crumpled on the ground:

Photo: @banksy

2019, Glastonbury, Originals, UK

Banksy designs stab-proof vest for Stormzy. 28 June 2019

by R.A.

Banksy comments on the knife-stabbing epidemic with a stab-proof vest for Croydon-born superstar Stormzy to wear at his headlining act at Glastonbury.

In his own words:

“I made a customised stab-proof vest and thought – who could possibly wear this? Stormzy at Glastonbury.”

20190629 - Original - Stabproof vest - Banksy Instagram.png
Photo: Banksy’s Instagram

A few days later, Banksy published a Stormzy clip on his Youtube channel:

Stormzy backstage at Glastonbury 2019
2019, Exhibitions, Originals, UK

Installation at Royal Academy of Arts. 11 June 2019

by R.A.

Banksy’s take on Brexit is well known, as seen in three pieces over the last two years. The first was the big mural in Dover, unveiled on 7 May 2017. The second piece contributed to last year’s summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, titled Vote to Love. And this year, Banksy is back at the RAA summer exhibition with an Archway salvaged from Heathrow Airport.

Photos: Banksy’s Instagram

2019, Bristol, Instagram, Originals

Banksy comments on Brexit fiasco. 28 March 2019

by R.A.

Devolved Parliament was originally exhibited at the Banksy vs. Bristol Museum in the summer of 2009. The show attracted over 300,000 visitors and was the most visited art exhibition in the UK that year.

The piece is one of Banksy’s largest oil paintings, measuring 4 metres by 2.5 metres. The artwork will be displayed again at Bristol Museum for 6 months, from 28 March to 1 September 2019.

20190328 - Original - Monkey Parlament - Banksy Instagram.png
Screenshot: @banksy

The piece hanging at Bristol Museum in August 2019:

Photo: R.A.

Some details:

2019, Originals, Palestine, The Walled Off Hotel

New piece at The Walled Off Hotel. 1 February 2019

by R.A.

Several independent Instagram accounts posted pictures of the new piece on 1 February.

Photos: @francas on Instagram

The Walled Off Hotel opened almost two years ago in Bethlehem, only six kilometres south of downtown Jerusalem, but on the other side of the wall. The Hotel is a piece of art in itself and, at the same time, a huge philosophical statement, all mixed with Banksy’s usual charm and wit. A visit is highly recommended. See the previous post: The Walled Off Hotel. Palestine, March 2017.

2018, Street Art, UK

Bittersweet Christmas greeting in Port Talbot. 19 December 2018

by R.A.

Team Banksy did the piece just a few miles from the Tata Steel mill in Port Talbot, southern Wales. Looking at the artwork from one angle, it depicts a child with a sledge, trying to catch the snowflakes with the tongue and hopeful to use the sledge if the snowfall continues.

20181220 - SA - UK - Port Talbot - Seasons greetings - Banksyweb.png
Photo from http://www.banksy.co.uk

Local councillor Nigel Thomas Hunt said to The Guardian:

“We’re buzzing down here. The placing of the work is very clever. You can look at the painting and see the furnaces in the background. We’re delighted. I’ve written to the council already and we need to secure this really quickly.”

The Guardian article continues: “This year, the World Health Organization said Port Talbot was the most polluted place in the UK. But in May, Neath Port Talbot council said the WHO got the figures wrong and had apologised.”