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