Banksy

[Aprilsinparis]

AIBU to think what a good idea it would be for Banksy to start drawing on walls of hospitals and charities, and then the money raised by selling the drawings would go to those in need. I'm sure the charity wouldn't object to having a portion of a wall removed and rebuilt for the sake of the thousands they would make from selling a Banksy. Just a thought....

It would be impossible.to paint undetected though on a hospital wall

It would be a good idea for Banksy to stop drawing on walls altogether. I hate the idea that his graffiti is fine because it's 'art'.

I think they probably wouldn’t be majorly keen because huge amounts of publicity, press and security would cause a huge headache. He could do it on an out of the way back wall I suppose. The only problem might be they would have to be extremely careful with who owned it and where. If there were boundary issues it could either get the NHS lots of expensive legal crap or cause them loads of hassle and expensive but not technically belong to them.

Also, selling off NHS property is not as easy a process as you might think especially not at the moment. The NHS has a lot of saleable assets and there is a good plan in place to modernise facilities with it. But it can’t be done because it’s used as a political football.

Many famous artists donate work to causes they believe in, but Banksy's 'anonymity' means he can't just paint on hospital walls so they can auction it off. He does do a fair amount of community work though, in Bristol particularly, not sure how that works if he needs to stay 'anonymous' but there are means and ways I suppose.

I lived in Hackney when he started doing them. They were regularly painted over. They must kick themselves now.

I remember the first one I saw. There was a bridge which had ‘Free Reg Kray’ painted on it for years. Suddenly one day ‘Please Drive By Carefully in our Village appeared’. Suited the area. I was on a bus when I saw it and I laughed so much I banged my head on one of the rails.

Massive Attack support human rights charities and have done charity fundraising gigs before. There is huge speculation that Banksy is a band member.

It would be a good idea for Banksy to stop drawing on walls altogether. I hate the idea that his graffiti is fine because it's 'art'.

could not agree more.

But rather than donating money to causes of social injustice he works by giving publicity to them instead.

He might give money too. I have no idea.

So it can't be art if it's applied directly to a wall. That means hundreds of murals painted over centuries aren't art. The Sistine Chapel isn't art. What an absurd argument.

I'm pretty sure he's probably looked into the possibility of doing this but the legal ramifications and hassle involved probably stops him. Yeah I heard he's allegedly a member of Massive Attack.

It's not an argument, its that if regular joe bloggs did it they'd be given an asbo and it would be painted over. Double standards

Double standards my arse. If Joe Bloggs did it, it wouldn't be art.

So its only art if someone "famous" does it?

I think the argument about whether it's art or not is pretty irrelevant to the point of this thread. It's that his stuff sells for mega bucks. People enjoy his work and are prepared to spend lots of money on it.

I wasn't disputing if it was art or not. I merely stated if anyone did it it would be painted over and that, is infact, double standards. I dont really care about his paintings, its not to my taste.

I dont really care about his paintings, its not to my taste
I don't really care about Mona Lisa. My taste or distaste doesn't change its value and significance

That means hundreds of murals painted over centuries aren't art. The Sistine Chapel isn't art.

Where did I say it wasn't art? What I said was that it was graffiti. Murals are usually painted on request. The issue here is painting on someone else's building without permission.

As others have said, Joe Bloggs would get an ASBO, not applause. Horrible cultural snobbery and double-standards.

,Absolutely, Fish.

I've realised that doing anything in the name of art or fundraising, makes absolutely ANYTHING acceptable. It's art, you see. Or it's for charity. And only stupid, uncultured buffoons don't understand that.

In the name of art AND charity, perhaps Banksy could donate one of his kidneys to a hospital for transplant?

I dont really care about his paintings, its not to my taste
I don't really care about Mona Lisa. My taste or distaste doesn't change its value and significance
I didn't say it did??

He can paint on my walls without permission any time he likes. Not only do I like his work but i could easily find lots of ways to spend the money.

You wouldn't donate it to charity?

If he painted my house, I'd be taking him to the Small Claims Court to pay for sandblasting it off.

Have you not read about how much stress and money it cost the man who owned the garage of his latest installation? There was so much people and traffic management to consider, he couldn't get on with his normal job. He was seriously, seriously stressed out by it. Do we need that in hospitals? Absolutely not.

I've realised that doing anything in the name of art or fundraising, makes absolutely ANYTHING acceptable. It's art, you see. Or it's for charity. And only stupid, uncultured buffoons don't understand that.
Only a recognized and established artist can do something worthwhile "for charity". Others need to make a living, or else it will have zero value.