some sort of Banksy retrospective
Banksy comments 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.”
Photo: Banksy’s Instagram
Banksy’s take on Brexit is well known as we have seen in three pieces during the last two years. The first being the big mural in Dover, unveiled on 7 May 2017. The second piece was the contribution to last year’s summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts with the “Vote to Love”. And this year, Banksy is back at the RAA summer exhibition with an “Archway salvaged from Heathrow Airport”.
Photo: Banksy’s Instagram
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:
From Sotheby’s web:
“In a moment that caught the art world by surprise, Banksy’s Girl with Balloon self-destructed just as the final hammer signaled the end of an evening of auctions in London. The work sold for £1,042,000 ($1.4 million), tying the artist’s record in pounds at auction previously achieved in 2008.
The framed work, spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on board depicted a girl reaching out toward a bright red, heart shaped balloon – one of Banksy’s most iconic images – began to pass through a shredder hidden in the frame.”
Photo: Banksy’s Instagram
Banksy’s former agent Steve Lazarides opened a very interesting exhibition at his Mayfair gallery of some of Banksy’s most coveted oil paintings, labeled “Greatest Hits 2002 – 2008”. At the center of the exhibition are seven unique pieces from the 2005 “Crude Oil” exhibition. One can also find the original paintings to some of the most iconic prints, such as “Christ with shopping bags”, “Barcode Leopard” and “Trolleys”. The exhibition runs until 25 August.
Photos: R.A.
Banksy: “I’ve made a flag for the big match…”
The piece was published on Banky’s Instagram a few hours before the World Cup quarterfinal between England and Sweden.
Banksy: “I had planned to paint this on a wall, but ended up thinking it was more of a cartoon. So here it is – as a cartoon.”
