nick42
New Member
🗨️ 227
👍🏻 158
July 2020
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Sam Am
New Member
🗨️ 507
👍🏻 823
September 2020
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New Banksy?, by Sam Am on Aug 15, 2021 18:45:43 GMT 1, Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔
Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔 |
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JockoLad
New Member
🗨️ 745
👍🏻 1,035
February 2007
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New Banksy?, by JockoLad on Aug 15, 2021 18:53:54 GMT 1, Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔
Looks like the guy chucking the chair through the window in his homage to Edward Hopper!
Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔 Looks like the guy chucking the chair through the window in his homage to Edward Hopper! |
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mojo
Junior Member
🗨️ 2,193
👍🏻 3,726
May 2014
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New Banksy?, by mojo on Aug 15, 2021 18:54:03 GMT 1, Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔 
Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔 It looks like Max Branning off Eastenders |
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New Banksy?, by Lroy on Aug 15, 2021 22:30:41 GMT 1, Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔
I saw him already .
Of course he is part of the team..
Banksy likes to play first, with his comrades too, and he would not take any risks filming ( as characters in movie or videos )
And he needed too some mates to keeping an eye on the passerby in case of..
No, Banksy, you are not alone !
I like all this, different crews ( if we can say ) coming, going away, having laugh, enjoying booze painting tattoos and motorbikes etc ..
Wonder is this sunbathing bald bloke is part of team B or just a randomer, seems to comfy 🤔 I saw him already . Of course he is part of the team.. Banksy likes to play first, with his comrades too, and he would not take any risks filming ( as characters in movie or videos ) And he needed too some mates to keeping an eye on the passerby in case of.. No, Banksy, you are not alone ! I like all this, different crews ( if we can say ) coming, going away, having laugh, enjoying booze painting tattoos and motorbikes etc .. |
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Sam Am
New Member
🗨️ 507
👍🏻 823
September 2020
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New Banksy?, by Sam Am on Aug 15, 2021 23:12:52 GMT 1, Couldn't agree with you more! On that note I’m going to watch exit through the gift shop 😅
Couldn't agree with you more! On that note I’m going to watch exit through the gift shop 😅
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New Banksy?, by Lroy on Aug 16, 2021 6:37:49 GMT 1, Couldn't agree with you more! On that note I’m going to watch exit through the gift shop 😅 Without telling my life, it's because of the 5 first minutes of Exit Through The Gift Shop, that my wallet have had a burn out, and that I became an inconditionnal fan of Banksy, Graffiti and street-art ( my first print was Target by Pins ) .. !
Finally, an alternative, an emergency exit, to the death of punk, post-punk, rock and all that makes noise, which breaks everything and which is anarchist! Phew it was about time!
My life has changed then, I did not know this graffiti world, going out the night, living and tagging trains, I thought that it was only tags and go.... Welcome vandals !
Now I m addict.
Couldn't agree with you more! On that note I’m going to watch exit through the gift shop 😅 Without telling my life, it's because of the 5 first minutes of Exit Through The Gift Shop, that my wallet have had a burn out, and that I became an inconditionnal fan of Banksy, Graffiti and street-art ( my first print was Target by Pins ) .. !
Finally, an alternative, an emergency exit, to the death of punk, post-punk, rock and all that makes noise, which breaks everything and which is anarchist! Phew it was about time!
My life has changed then, I did not know this graffiti world, going out the night, living and tagging trains, I thought that it was only tags and go.... Welcome vandals !
Now I m addict.
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sm3gz
New Member
🗨️ 89
👍🏻 62
March 2021
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New Banksy?, by sm3gz on Aug 16, 2021 9:51:49 GMT 1, I made a video team B’s process of using tarpaulin and it’s blown up , read the comments for a laugh 😅 vm.tiktok.com/ZMRRa11EM/
To be fair the one of make money on Art about global warming while dumping your plastic has a sort of point 😂😂
I made a video team B’s process of using tarpaulin and it’s blown up , read the comments for a laugh 😅 vm.tiktok.com/ZMRRa11EM/To be fair the one of make money on Art about global warming while dumping your plastic has a sort of point 😂😂 |
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vic
New Member
🗨️ 174
👍🏻 230
February 2020
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New Banksy?, by vic on Aug 16, 2021 10:42:17 GMT 1, I think the small inflatable is my fave, it's very British seaside postcard humour. The seagull and grabber are cool too.
The whole thing feels like something he could have done 10 years ago and given the resources available to Banksy these days makes it feel a bit underwhelming, but at the same time cool that he's so authentic.
The whole documentation is where its moved on though. However, I do think, as is often the case with Banksy, the ambition is greater than the art.
I think the small inflatable is my fave, it's very British seaside postcard humour. The seagull and grabber are cool too.
The whole thing feels like something he could have done 10 years ago and given the resources available to Banksy these days makes it feel a bit underwhelming, but at the same time cool that he's so authentic.
The whole documentation is where its moved on though. However, I do think, as is often the case with Banksy, the ambition is greater than the art.
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New Banksy?, by Lroy on Aug 16, 2021 11:04:33 GMT 1, I think the small inflatable is my fave, it's very British seaside postcard humour. The seagull and grabber are cool too. The whole thing feels like something he could have done 10 years ago and given the resources available to Banksy these days makes it feel a bit underwhelming, but at the same time cool that he's so authentic. The whole documentation is where its moved on though. However, I do think, as is often the case with Banksy, the ambition is greater than the art.
Yeps agree! It sounds as holidays in the fun, in the seaside , as a pack of fish and chips !!! 👌🏻
I think the small inflatable is my fave, it's very British seaside postcard humour. The seagull and grabber are cool too. The whole thing feels like something he could have done 10 years ago and given the resources available to Banksy these days makes it feel a bit underwhelming, but at the same time cool that he's so authentic. The whole documentation is where its moved on though. However, I do think, as is often the case with Banksy, the ambition is greater than the art. Yeps agree! It sounds as holidays in the fun, in the seaside , as a pack of fish and chips !!! 👌🏻 |
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Deleted
🗨️ 0
👍🏻
January 1970
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New Banksy?, by Deleted on Aug 16, 2021 14:19:11 GMT 1, Any budding video editors out there want to edit all of banksys techniques from every video and image ever made then compile them into the ultimate masterclass?
If you could have it ready for after me supper around 7.45 .cheers.
Any budding video editors out there want to edit all of banksys techniques from every video and image ever made then compile them into the ultimate masterclass?
If you could have it ready for after me supper around 7.45 .cheers.
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New Banksy?, by Discerning Eye on Aug 16, 2021 16:17:11 GMT 1,
The rat lacks detail (fur) to me.
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/VICpc2f" data-context="false" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/VICpc2f"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The rat lacks detail (fur) to me. <blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/VICpc2f" data-context="false" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/VICpc2f"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> |
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nugget
New Member
🗨️ 38
👍🏻 62
August 2021
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Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. |
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Deleted
🗨️ 0
👍🏻
January 1970
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New Banksy?, by Deleted on Aug 16, 2021 17:19:37 GMT 1,
You have a discerning eye sir
You have a discerning eye sir |
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met
Junior Member
🗨️ 2,797
👍🏻 6,772
June 2009
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New Banksy?, by met on Aug 16, 2021 17:28:31 GMT 1, The rat lacks detail (fur) to me. 
Given:
(i) the level of technical skill demonstrated in the execution of this piece;
(ii) the random and pointless copying of an old, recognisable Banksy rat graphic; and
(iii) (notwithstanding a wine-box piece having been used as the substrate) the muddled thought process and conceptual incoherence of combining that graphic with the "tree" text,
St Mary's Church in Rickinghall, Suffolk may actually be displaying an original Mason Storm painting.
Well done to the curator of the Rickinghall Art Exhibition, Caroline Davidson.
If she auctions the work after the show is over, it might raise as much as £3.50. Or even £5.00.
And this may be enough for the owner (Mason Storm?) to purchase another wine box on eBay — which could then be used as a container for returning their art supplies back to storage.
The rat lacks detail (fur) to me. Given: (i) the level of technical skill demonstrated in the execution of this piece; (ii) the random and pointless copying of an old, recognisable Ban ksy rat graphic; and (iii) (notwithstanding a wine-box piece having been used as the substrate) the muddled thought process and conceptual incoherence of combining that graphic with the "tree" text, St Mary's Church in Rickinghall, Suffolk may actually be displaying an original Mason Storm painting. Well done to the curator of the Rickinghall Art Exhibition, Caroline Davidson. If she auctions the work after the show is over, it might raise as much as £3.50. Or even £5.00. And this may be enough for the owner (Mason St orm?) to purchase another wine box on eB ay — which could then be used as a container for returning their art supplies back to storage. |
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slevin
New Member
🗨️ 602
👍🏻 699
December 2015
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New Banksy?, by slevin on Aug 16, 2021 17:38:15 GMT 1, That rat looks awful.
And lol at criminal damage on actual criminal damage in the first place. Haha you can't make it up.
That rat looks awful.
And lol at criminal damage on actual criminal damage in the first place. Haha you can't make it up.
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New Banksy?, by Lroy on Aug 16, 2021 17:46:52 GMT 1, The rat lacks detail (fur) to me. <blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/VICpc2f" data-context="false" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/VICpc2f"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> More simply, a short and obvious explanation, maybe the " artist " was talking about Amazon and not ' trees in Amazonia...
Anyway this is the local newspapers to blame, looking for a piece of moldy cheese and not the ( young ) artist himself ... local kids... Kinda stencils like rats.. .( not seem to be the same but plenty on ebay)
The rat lacks detail (fur) to me. <blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/VICpc2f" data-context="false" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/VICpc2f"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script> More simply, a short and obvious explanation, maybe the " artist " was talking about Amazon and not ' trees in Amazonia...
Anyway this is the local newspapers to blame, looking for a piece of moldy cheese and not the ( young ) artist himself ... local kids... Kinda stencils like rats.. .( not seem to be the same but plenty on ebay)
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nugget
New Member
🗨️ 38
👍🏻 62
August 2021
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New Banksy?, by nugget on Aug 16, 2021 18:04:49 GMT 1, It comes to something when the eBay stencil is more accurate than the piece being questioned in the newspapers 
It comes to something when the eBay stencil is more accurate than the piece being questioned in the newspapers |
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met
Junior Member
🗨️ 2,797
👍🏻 6,772
June 2009
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New Banksy?, by met on Aug 16, 2021 19:01:04 GMT 1, Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness.
While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me.
Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage".
In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished.
But when Banksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges.
Using the same arguments, my position would be that Banksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal".
Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism".
Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me. Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage". In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished. But when Ban ksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges. Using the same arguments, my position would be that Ban ksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal". Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism". |
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New Banksy?, by Bill Hicks on Aug 16, 2021 19:09:18 GMT 1, Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me. Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage". In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished. But when Ban ksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges. Using the same arguments, my position would be that Ban ksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal". Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism".
Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me. Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage". In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished. But when Ban ksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges. Using the same arguments, my position would be that Ban ksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal". Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism". |
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New Banksy?, by Lroy on Aug 16, 2021 23:21:11 GMT 1, Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me. Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage". In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished. But when Ban ksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges. Using the same arguments, my position would be that Ban ksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal". Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism".
So, if it’s not vandalism, can we call it now : « bourgeoisie, hype and established art ? “
All these graffitis or street-artists have been recuperated by municipalities, billionaires, young wolves from
Wall Street and overpaid footballers ? All this because of .. Money, investment, prints and canvas market ? Speculators ? And so now we should had to protect them ? Is it the future ? And for the people fan of this graffiti world, and for the more fortunate of us, we have to overpay Lp’ sleeves, posters, fake posters, tats, etc ?
Rotten with his no future broke the rules of all this rock, baba cool and star system with billionaire boring bands as the Rolling Stones, Beatles, etc etc.
What is happening with the screenshot of the white paint and the police investigation is paradoxal with Banksy ‘s world ( traveling in the video in his old van as the guy on the road again etc ..
Yes it’s a paradox, and what was a rebellion, vandalisms and outlaws is already right now an outside museum.
Imposture ?
and forgivable one, because we all love Banksy ?
Decade ago there was this famous trial where Tox was jailed during two years and when Eine had hard words !
the paradox again is that Banksy made a wall to help Tox sending him bubbles hommage and love .. ( toyed by another one on the plexiglass )..
* Interesting debate ( and what is happening even if we are sad, street is the street even if I don’t caution this toxic and wrong coward white paint ) anyway even if I write as a goat.
www.google.fr/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/07/tox-graffiti-artist-criminal-damage
Can you be charged for criminal damage, for painting over someone else's criminal damage? Madness. While appreciating yours may have been a rhetorical question, it covers a point of interest to me. Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the courts of England and Wales are given some discretion as to what constitutes "damage". In most if not all cases at this stage of his career, it seems unlikely that unauthorised street pieces created by Banksy would be construed by the courts as damage. Since the financial value of the properties, and arguably their cultural value, would probably be enhanced rather than diminished. But when Ban ksy street pieces are later defaced or destroyed, the resulting loss of property value incurred by the relevant owners (whether private or public) could indeed warrant criminal damage charges. Using the same arguments, my position would be that Ban ksy can no longer technically be described as a "vandal". Nor can any of his street works over the past decade or so, even if they were unsanctioned, now be referred to with accuracy as "vandalism". This world is very strange and the social Fracture increases day by day and touched street-art. It’s a market : some knows, some artists are becoming “ classics “ when others are abandoned or/and purchased. So, if it’s not vandalism, can we call it now : « bourgeoisie, hype and established art ? “ All these graffitis or street-artists have been recuperated by municipalities, billionaires, young wolves from Wall Street and overpaid footballers ? All this because of .. Money, investment, prints and canvas market ? Speculators ? And so now we should had to protect them ? Is it the future ? And for the people fan of this graffiti world, and for the more fortunate of us, we have to overpay Lp’ sleeves, posters, fake posters, tats, etc ? Rotten with his no future broke the rules of all this rock, baba cool and star system with billionaire boring bands as the Rolling Stones, Beatles, etc etc. What is happening with the screenshot of the white paint and the police investigation is paradoxal with Banksy ‘s world ( traveling in the video in his old van as the guy on the road again etc .. Yes it’s a paradox, and what was a rebellion, vandalisms and outlaws is already right now an outside museum. Imposture ? and forgivable one, because we all love Banksy ? Decade ago there was this famous trial where Tox was jailed during two years and when Eine had hard words ! the paradox again is that Banksy made a wall to help Tox sending him bubbles hommage and love .. ( toyed by another one on the plexiglass ).. * Interesting debate ( and what is happening even if we are sad, street is the street even if I don’t caution this toxic and wrong coward white paint ) anyway even if I write as a goat. www.google.fr/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/07/tox-graffiti-artist-criminal-damage |
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New Banksy?, by trickledown on Aug 16, 2021 23:45:50 GMT 1, Has anybody else noticed that the Alcoholic man /Girl flying on inflatable dinghy has been removed from the Banksy website? I'm assuming that maybe it's been removed because he was unaware of the tragic circumstances relating to the bouncy castle incident and I'm guessing this was done out of respect.
Has anybody else noticed that the Alcoholic man /Girl flying on inflatable dinghy has been removed from the Banksy website? I'm assuming that maybe it's been removed because he was unaware of the tragic circumstances relating to the bouncy castle incident and I'm guessing this was done out of respect.
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New Banksy?, by trickledown on Aug 17, 2021 10:51:37 GMT 1, He thanked Banksy for his "one-of-a-kind masterpieces" and said he would like to see an artwork in the artist's "signature style" showing "townsfolk releasing hundreds of pink balloons".
If I was a betting man I wouldn’t be surprised to see another new Banksy featuring pink balloons appearing somewhere in Great Yarmouth over the coming weeks.
Possibly even a new version of Girl with ballon?
He thanked Banksy for his "one-of-a-kind masterpieces" and said he would like to see an artwork in the artist's "signature style" showing "townsfolk releasing hundreds of pink balloons". If I was a betting man I wouldn’t be surprised to see another new Banksy featuring pink balloons appearing somewhere in Great Yarmouth over the coming weeks. Possibly even a new version of Girl with ballon? |
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New Banksy?, by Arty Farty 15 on Aug 17, 2021 11:20:30 GMT 1, He thanked Banksy for his "one-of-a-kind masterpieces" and said he would like to see an artwork in the artist's "signature style" showing "townsfolk releasing hundreds of pink balloons". If I was a betting man I wouldn’t be surprised to see another new Banksy featuring pink balloons appearing somewhere in Great Yarmouth over the coming weeks. Possibly even a new version of Girl with ballon?
Good job you’re not a betting man as this definitely will not be happening.
He thanked Banksy for his "one-of-a-kind masterpieces" and said he would like to see an artwork in the artist's "signature style" showing "townsfolk releasing hundreds of pink balloons". If I was a betting man I wouldn’t be surprised to see another new Banksy featuring pink balloons appearing somewhere in Great Yarmouth over the coming weeks. Possibly even a new version of Girl with ballon? Good job you’re not a betting man as this definitely will not be happening. |
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met
Junior Member
🗨️ 2,797
👍🏻 6,772
June 2009
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New Banksy?, by met on Aug 17, 2021 21:14:13 GMT 1, World's gone mad 😂😂😂 Banksy not wanted but cover up is, for criminal damage. Laughable
A criminal damage investigation into the whitewashing is certainly ironic, when bearing in mind Banksy's origins.
But I myself would not describe this as the world having gone mad. Because it makes perfect sense to me, especially when considered from the perspective of Lowestoft and its residents.
The professional status and cultural significance Banksy has built up over the years means his unsanctioned interventions have broadly ceased to be viewed as vandalism — whether by the general populace, its elected representatives, or the authorities.
Indeed, the opposite would be true. More often than not, Banksy's street pieces are now looked upon as surprise "gifts" to the relevant neighbourhoods. And, crucially, gifts that are very much welcomed. They generate interest and promote civic engagement. They shift the status quo, by adding value rather than taking away from it.
And so, when these artworks are defaced or destroyed, there is an identifiable loss that provides the foundation for a criminal damage case.
Regardless of any misgivings some individuals may have on the subject of what street art or graffiti "should be about", this is the current reality when it comes to Banksy. Specifically, his interventions are treated as the exception. The position he holds is pretty unique.
__________
Try placing yourself in the shoes of a struggling business just coming out of lockdown in Lowestoft. Like, say, a retail shop, hotel, bed & breakfast, restaurant, café or bar.
Next, imagine the impact of a new Banksy piece suddenly popping up nearby.
It might well be a lifeline. Possibly even a godsend — attracting day visitors and tourists; re-energising an entire community after the Covid-19 restrictions; helping to bring people together again; offering locals some pride in the fact their town had become a talking point and was momentarily in the international spotlight.
To my mind, the cocktail-drinking rat, cleverly positioned beneath the beach drain pipe, was artistically strong enough to have become a notable cultural landmark for the area.
Whether as a morale booster or simply in terms of potential tourism revenue, the artwork probably had more value to Lowestoft than if Banksy had offered the town 25 gold bars weighing 1kg apiece.
Now imagine what a depressing comedown it must have been for business owners and residents when they discovered the rat was covered over. And so pointlessly as well, to the detriment of the commons. Simply for reasons of petty envy or spite by one individual.
My hope is that the painting can be restored.
As you posted an ITV News headline, I in turn found another article by the same outlet. Please see below.
The video therein is recommended — if only to listen to the winsome elderly lady with the embroidered black top, starting at 0:47. For me, her comment about "some brainless cretin" offered a perfect assessment of the situation:
www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-08-15/council-condemns-mindless-and-selfish-behaviour-after-banksy-mural-vandalised
World's gone mad 😂😂😂 Banksy not wanted but cover up is, for criminal damage. Laughable
A criminal damage investigation into the whitewashing is certainly ironic, when bearing in mind Banksy's origins. But I myself would not describe this as the world having gone mad. Because it makes perfect sense to me, especially when considered from the perspective of Lowestoft and its residents. The professional status and cultural significance Ban ksy has built up over the years means his unsanctioned interventions have broadly ceased to be viewed as vandalism — whether by the general populace, its elected representatives, or the authorities. Indeed, the opposite would be true. More often than not, Ban ksy's street pieces are now looked upon as surprise "gifts" to the relevant neighbourhoods. And, crucially, gifts that are very much welcomed. They generate interest and promote civic engagement. They shift the status quo, by adding value rather than taking away from it. And so, when these artworks are defaced or destroyed, there is an identifiable loss that provides the foundation for a criminal damage case. Regardless of any misgivings some individuals may have on the subject of what str eet art or gra ffiti "should be about", this is the current reality when it comes to Ban ksy. Specifically, his interventions are treated as the exception. The position he holds is pretty unique. __________ Try placing yourself in the shoes of a struggling business just coming out of lockdown in Lowestoft. Like, say, a retail shop, hotel, bed & breakfast, restaurant, café or bar. Next, imagine the impact of a new Ban ksy piece suddenly popping up nearby. It might well be a lifeline. Possibly even a godsend — attracting day visitors and tourists; re-energising an entire community after the Covid-19 restrictions; helping to bring people together again; offering locals some pride in the fact their town had become a talking point and was momentarily in the international spotlight. To my mind, the cocktail-drinking rat, cleverly positioned beneath the beach drain pipe, was artistically strong enough to have become a notable cultural landmark for the area. Whether as a morale booster or simply in terms of potential tourism revenue, the artwork probably had more value to Lowestoft than if Ban ksy had offered the town 25 gold bars weighing 1kg apiece. Now imagine what a depressing comedown it must have been for business owners and residents when they discovered the rat was covered over. And so pointlessly as well, to the detriment of the commons. Simply for reasons of petty envy or spite by one individual. My hope is that the painting can be restored. As you posted an ITV News headline, I in turn found another article by the same outlet. Please see below. The video therein is recommended — if only to listen to the winsome elderly lady with the embroidered black top, starting at 0:47. For me, her comment about "some brainless cretin" offered a perfect assessment of the situation: www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-08-15/council-condemns-mindless-and-selfish-behaviour-after-banksy-mural-vandalised |
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