some sort of Banksy retrospective
As the title indicates, the book covers the early shows. It is edited by art historian Uli Blanché and published by Heidelberg University. The book has some very well written essays by real experts, and a wealth of fantastic information. It’s downloadable for free here: https://books.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/arthistoricum/catalog/view/1201/2062/108482
The new book, Cut & Run, 25 years of card labour – has the same mixture of great imagery and witty texts full of insights as Wall and Piece from 2005. As the title indicates, the content covers the exhibition, but there are also a lot of pictures we have never seen before and some great anecdotes from 25 years of illegal street art. It seems like the book is only available at the Cut & Run exhibition.
Banksy’s former agent and official photographer released his much-anticipated book in December 2019. Banksy Captured comes with plenty of previously unpublished photographs of Banksy and some amusing anecdotes from different street art adventures. It is certainly a must-read for anyone interested in the early days of British street art.
Steve Lazarides is interviewed in an upcoming documentary, Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art, to be released in February 2020. The film features, among others, street art legend and Pictures on Walls printer Ben Eine. Click for the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9ttLyQe9E
By the way, Banksy’s unaltered voice at the beginning of the trailer mentioned above is strikingly similar to the voice of the person presented as Banksy in an interview at the Turf War exhibition in July 2003. Reporter Haig Gordon did the interview for ITV, but the footage was reported to have been forgotten in the ITV archive for 16 years until it surfaced in 2019:
This line of thought in the “Who is Banksy?” mystery is supported by some photographs in Lazarides’ new book, especially one on page 154 depicting 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.
The first edition of Wall and Piece was published in 2005. The book summarises the previous three black books, but it also has a lot of new material. Wall and Piece became a major bestseller and a must-have for an initiated Banksy follower.
Cut it Out was the last of the three little black books. It has some interesting street art, loads of rats, and a few lovely canvases. Among them is “Suicide bombers just need a hug” from the Turf War exhibition.
Banksy’s second book sees the light in May 2002 and is heavier on rats than his first.
“Like most people I have a fantasy that all the little powerless losers will gang up together. That all the vermin will get some good equipment and then the underground will go overground and tear the city apart”
Banksy published his first book of four up to date: Banging your head against a brick wall, which contains some very well-written texts along with images of his most prominent street art and some interesting originals. 54 pages in B&W. Some curious highlights:
Banksy unofficial 