some sort of Banksy retrospective
A bittersweet reminder for us comfortable westerners that Christmas is not a celebration of peace, joy, and overeating for everyone.
In Banksy’s own words:
“Scar of Bethlehem.
A modified nativity set for the @walledoffhotel”
The same piece installed at the Walled Off Hotel:
Banksy’s handling service Pest Control Office has created one of the most efficient certification systems in the art world. For some time, they have also been active in the second-hand market as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of Banksy’s certified prints and unique studio work. (This has nothing to do with street-art pieces.)
Now it seems like they are taking it to a whole new level with the announced launch of http://www.Bbay.shop. It is an interesting development for the booming secondary market in Banksy artwork, and will hopefully set a new standard for transparency in the art market.
After a 13-minute bidding duel for “Devolved Parliament” at Sotheby’s Evening Sale, a new auction record was set for Banksy with an £8.5 million hammer price. Including the buyer’s premium, the buyer has to cough up with £9.9 million. Banksy did comment the sale a few hours later on his Instagram account:
Banksy hit the Venice Biennale uninvited with a contemporary message. In his own words on Instagram:
“Setting out my stall at the Venice Biennale. Despite being the largest and most prestigious art event in the world, for some reason I’ve never been invited.”
Photo: http://www.banksy.co.uk
“Monkey 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, 4 meters by 2.5 meters. The artwork is on display once again at Bristol Museum for 6 months, from the 28 March to the 1 September 2019.
Pictures of the new piece were posted on 1 February on several independent Instagram accounts.
Photos: @francas on Instagram
Walled Off Hotel opened almost two years ago in Bethlehem, only six kilometers 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 political statement, all mixed with Banksy’s usual charm and wit. A visit is highly recommendable. See previous post: The Walled Off Hotel. Palestine, March 2017.
The raffle was announced by Banksy on Instagram: Guess the weight of the boat and you can win it. Details at http://www.choose.love
It’s one of three refugee boats from an installation at the pop-up exhibition Dismaland in Weston-super-Mare, September 2015:
