Category: Rest of the world

2003, Exhibitions, Rest of the world

Semipermanent. Sydney, 2003

by R.A.

Semipermanent was an annual art festival held in Sydney, Australia. Banksy participated with a 12-metre panel. Melbourne’s Burn Crew, Dmote of Australia, 123Klan of France, and Shepard Fairey also attended.

Photos: Gary Trinh and Semi Permanent

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Europe (excl. UK), Rest of the world, Street Art

Street art abroad. 2000-2003

by R.A.

In the first years of the decade, besides the UK and US, Banksy went to Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Bergen, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Paris, and Palestine, where he painted the first stencilled version of the iconic Love is in the Air behind a gas station in Bethlehem.

Banksy in Barcelona. Born
Banksy in Barcelona. Plaza de la Veronica.
Banksy in Barcelona
Barcelona Zoo
Barcelona
Banksy in Tokyo – 2003
Banksy in Berlin – 2003
Banksy in Paris – 2003
Banksy in Paris – 2003
Los Angeles – 2002
San Francisco
San Francisco
Love is in the Air. Bethlehem, 2003

2001, Rest of the world, Street Art

Easton Cowboys in Chiapas. Mexico, January 2001

by R.A.

Banksy joined the Easton Cowboys, a radical football team from Bristol. In early 2001, they went to Chiapas, Mexico, to play against a football team from EZLN, Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional. Banksy played as a goalkeeper. During the stay in Chiapas, the Banksy team completed a few stencils and at least two free-hands.

Banksy at work in Chiapas
Mural in Chiapas
Banksy at work in Chiapas
Banksy stencil in Chiapas
Banksy stencil in Chiapas

The trip was partly financed by a raffle of a Banksy painting in October 2000:

Photo: Tangent Books

SWISS EMBASSY. 26 JANUARY 2001

The Swiss ambassador to the UK invited a group of street artists to decorate the underground parking of the embassy. It was part of a cultural programme. The press release from the Swiss Embassy read as follows:

“The course of the new century will be shaped and determined largely by those who are 15 – 30 years old today. We, the members of staff at the Swiss Embassy in London, are dedicating our programme for 2001 to this particular section of our society. We want to find out from the “next generation” what it thinks of the future, how it plans and influences future events, what values and ideas it has. We want to learn and understand, we want to debate and experience.Together with young people and young adults we intend to organise five principal events:

  • On 26 January 2001: Graffiti Party in the Garage at the Embassy
  • On 29 May 2001: Swiss Ambassador’s Award 2001 (Mirjam Tschopp, violin, and Karl-Andreas Kolly, piano)
  • In summer 2001: Trendsetting Sports and Food Event in the streets of London
  • Also in summer 2001: Fashion Event
  • As the grand finale in November 2001: major Swiss Event for young artists at Tate Modern.

We want to begin the year 2001 with a New Year Graffiti Party for 15-30 year-olds in the Garage at the Embassy. We have invited other graffiti artists too, who will transform the Embassy’s Garage into a cultural space one month before the Party.”

Two of Banksy’s many pieces:

Photos: Banksyforum, Flickr

The Guardian told the story behind the ambassador’s initiative:

Underground art: how Banksy gave Swiss embassy an image makeover | Banksy | The GuardianDownload