Category: UK

2019, Street Art, UK

A Christmas greeting from Ryan. Birmingham, 9 December 2019

by banksyunofficial

The new mural is a bittersweet Christmas greeting featuring Ryan, a homeless person, being drawn away by two reindeer. The piece appeared in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter last Friday, the 6 December, and was confirmed on Banksy’s Instagram a few days later with a short video. In Banksy’s own words:

“God bless Birmingham. In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hot drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter – without him ever asking for anything.”

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Photograph: Banksy/Instagram

According to an article published in  The Guardian on 10 December:

“A commuter who happened to pass by on her way to work on Friday morning claims she saw a man setting up close to the wall. She said: “It was around 7 o’clock on Friday morning when I got off the bus and saw a man giving a few snacks to a homeless man who was sitting on the bench. I wouldn’t have thought it was Banksy, I just thought it was someone helping out the homeless.”

Martin Clarke, a jeweller at Vault 88, claims to have seen two workmen early on Friday morning working on the wall which is directly outside his shop. “I saw a small tent with a couple of lads in high-vis vests early in the morning on Friday. I thought they were from the council and were just doing a bit of upkeep. About half six I looked out the window and the tent had gone as had the lads. Then I saw it.

“I thought it was great. We weren’t sure what it was at first or who did it but we had a good idea.”

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The official video of the piece in Birmingham:

Bench Birmingham / Banksyfilm
2019, Gross Domestic Product, Originals, Prints, UK

Gross Domestic Product opens for sale. 16 October 2019

by banksyunofficial

Banksy opened his much-anticipated store on 16 October. Among the products on sale are two interesting prints, a three-frame version of “Love is in the Air” and “Banksquiat,” a homage to Jean Michel Basquiat. These are Banksy’s first regular print releases since 2010.

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In Banksy’s own words: “I’m opening a shop. It’s called Gross Domestic Product™. It sells art, homewares and disappointment.”

http://www.grossdomesticproduct.com

2019, Exhibitions, Gross Domestic Product, UK

Gross Domestic Product. Croydon, October 2019

by banksyunofficial

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-cards company using the Banksy brand while selling products with Banksy motives. 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.”

Photos: R.A.

The goods on display will be sold on the website www.grossdomesticproduct.com

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The official GDP – trailer:

Art appreciation in the Cronx / Banksyfilm
2019, Instagram, Street Art, UK

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

by banksyunofficial

The anti-Brexit mural was originally painted in May 2017. On 25 August 2019, a 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 had been removed from the wall or whitewashed. A few days later, Banksy published his plans for the mural for the day of Brexit:

20190913 Instagram.png Screenshot from Banksy’s Instagram. The lone craftsman and the flag crumpled on the ground

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.”

2019, Originals, UK

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

by banksyunofficial

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.”

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Photo: Banksy’s Instagram

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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 banksyunofficial

Banksy’s take on Brexit is well known, as we have seen in three pieces during the last two years. The first is 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 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

2018, Street Art, UK

Bittersweet Christmas greeting in Port Talbot. 19 December 2018

by banksyunofficial

The piece was painted just a few miles from the Tata steel mill in Port Talbot, southern Wales. Looking at the painting 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. The piece was confirmed by Banksy’s Instagram on 19 December. According to several sources, it was painted some days before.

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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.”

2018, Street Art, UK

Dick pic in an ​unknown location. 22 November 2018

by banksyunofficial

It’s a text-based stencil incorporating a free-hand dick. “Based on your browsing history the following graffiti has been recommended for you…”. The exact location is not confirmed. It’s a somewhat surprising artistical turn, but it’s not the first male genital in the Banksy catalogue.

2018, Ephemera, The Walled Off Hotel, UK

Banksy at the World Travel Fair. London, 6 and 7 November 2018.

by banksyunofficial

In Banksy’s own words, as announced 3 November on Instagram:

“Opening my first ever stall at a trade fair next week. I’ve painted a replica separation barrier to promote the Walled Off hotel, ironically the neighbours have complained it’s too tall. We’ll be at Palestine stand giving away free stuff, World Travel Fair, London Excel centre 6th and 7th November. Free to get in if you register online today and pretend to be a travel agent.”

A few days later, a new poster was announced. In Banksy’s own words:

“Free Palestine poster. Be advised we only have 1000 posters to hand out each day at the tourist fair. You can download one from the website at http://www.banksy.co.uk “

Wisam Salsaa handing out posters at the World Travel Fair in London. Photo: Elliot Yardley.

The “we” pronoun in Banksy’s Instagram text was represented by Walled Off Hotel manager Wisam Salsaa handing out the posters personally.

Auction results, Originals, Pranks, UK

Shredding at Sotheby’s. 5 October 2018

by banksyunofficial

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.” 

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Photo: Banksy’s Instagram

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Days after the shredding, Banksy published the following two clips on his Youtube-channel:

Sotheby’s, October 5th 2018

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Shredding the Girl and Balloon – The Director’s half cut