Banksy graffitting all over the place should not be celebrated

[bitesthedust]

That is it really

If it was treated as a piece of street art, ok then, but now the policy and local authorities are protecting it, has it gone a bit too far?

For all that is going on in the world I see this as one positive thing

I think people want to wallow in misery a lot of the time

I think council tax payers just get pissed off that overgrown traffic islands aren't cut back, children's services are under strain, some other programme has been cut entirely, but guarding street art can suddenly be funded.

Yabu

Has the homeowner written the stay away one? Sure way to tell the neighbours you hate them

How long has baby killer been up?

Have you been tempted to get a red can correct their spellings?

@bitesthedust

who pissed on your chips??

I thought the police box on Ludgate Hill was the only one being guarded and now it's been moved? The Corporation can certainly afford it (and the council tax is pence anyway).

I welcome it and love it.

A Banksy popped up just up the road from me during the years of Covid misery. It was a lovely surprise and local people were delighted. The piece was a clever tribute to my area of Nottingham, which is the former and original home of the Raleigh bike factory: it was a mixed-race girl (strong black presence in the area) hula-hooping with a bike tyre.

Then the Banksy was stolen from us and relocated, just like the factory before it. Excellent social commentary, all in all - better than Banksy could have foreseen!

I remember reading an article or seeing a documentary about Banksy that said he/his people asked for permission before he graffitis something. This isn't official or published but it happens. Apparently.

But that's personal taste @SweetBirdsong , surely? I like some of Tracey Emin's work more than others but there is no sane, intelligent universe where it could ALL - every single thing - be usefully described as 'shite', not that she would give a fuck 🤣

You've reminded me she has an exhibition coming up at the White Cube next month though, so ta for that

He gets permission from the homeowner/ shop beforehand - much like the murals in Belfast. People want his artwork on their property.

I would welcome him with open arms!

Are you related to him @Marinade? . We're allowed to think your hero is crap and we don't want to see his "artwork" ruining our view. He did one near me in Reading and all the plebs were going to look at it but it was totally mundane.

If he did it on my house I'd be delighted. The value of it would increase massively overnight.

Exactly this. ^ 'Artwork' my arse. If it were on paper, at least I'd have something to use if we run out of loo roll! 😆

Someone near me has just sprayed the words “Elton John” on a wall alongside all the tags. It’s not even in any fancy colour text or anything. It’s so shit and random, I love it.

Haha, that is fab.

Reminds me, there is another one where I live. Bright red writing - it says "Jesus Is Lord".
Always makes me smile.

Was that by Tracey Emin?

This

He did one near me in Reading and all the plebs were going to look at it but it was totally mundane.

Who are you calling plebs

I like them. He painted one near where I live a little while ago and it caused quite a buzz with everyone going to look at it. It was quite fascinating to think he'd been there in the middle of the night doing it - just the night before. It was bigger than the recent ones this week so quite a feat to go undetected.

They feel like their owned by everyone in the community. And done to hceer us up after the riots and racism.

He’s a complete hack and his work is derivative and tired. I like street art in general though, so I don’t want him to be arrested.

Derivative of what or who? Or have you just heard that word used ad nauseum to dismiss artists who get a bit too popular and thought using it would give your opinion gravitas?

And when you say he's so predictable that he's been often faked, can you give me an example of a fake that has subsequently been produced by Banksy himself that proves his work was indeed predicted?

I like his work, but I somewhat agree, OP.

Apart from anything else, Banksy’s best work is anti-establishment and challenges government and corporations. I see the moves by local authorities (and big businesses) to protect his works to be about wanting to be more associated with the values his art projects than they actually are.

I really enjoyed the Museum Pranks and the piece that shredded itself at auction.

It’s all very subjective. I much prefer Banksy to say, Rothko. Rothko apparently wanted to make pieces that would move people to tears. Mine would have been tears of boredom.

Aye. The skip of their house.