At the moment, there’s a bit of Banksy craze in London. A local graffiti artist has recently earned worldwide acclaim for his edgy street art. He anonymously posts anti-war, pro-Peace and anti-establishment — or sometimes just funny — messages and images on otherwise normal, mundane building facades or walls for public enjoyment, and it would seem, to bring attention to parts of town (and the world) that are sometimes ignored. But, of late, Banksy has begun to showcase his canvas works (still anonymously) in museums like the British Museum (he sticks framed works onto the wall with doublestick tape when the cameras aren’t watching) and has hosted public showings in big cities like LA — drawing the attention of celebrities and art dealers alike. In fact, it’s rumored that Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt recently purchased 2 of his works for £200,000. With these types of prices on the art scene, those who own buildings blessed with his street art (graffiti) are rushing to cover up Banksy’s work to avoid theft or vandalism so that they may auction his work to others for removal.
Say what you will, but I connect with select Banksy works. So G and I went out and about today on the hunt for a few of our favorite Banksy works that haven’t yet been covered or auctioned and removed. To the right, you’ll find the maid in Chalk Farm by the Roundhouse (just a couple blocks downhill from our house), the flower (by Bethnal Green on Pollard Road) and the angel (a memorial work paying tribute to a fallen artist).
Why Banksy? Of all the street art, his seems most meaningful and thoughtful. Granted there are certain works that seem a bit trivial or juvenile, but select pieces carry a deeper meaning or a refreshing playfulness. While I’m certainly no art critic, here’s what the three works to the right symbolize to me:
Maid
This work sits on the line between posh Chalk Farm and grunge Camden. To me, the maid symbolizes the posh socialites of Hampstead and the dust in the pan symbolizes Camden. The meaning that I take from the painting is that Hampstead’s posh crowd quickly sweeps the “unpleasantness of Camden Town” beneath the window dressings–but it’s still there.
Unfortunately, a rival street artist named Vida painted over the maid on the night of the big Camden fire (in Feb–the day were were in Brighton). The council has since removed the other vandal’s whitewash to uncover Banksy’s original work, but there’s a bit of damage still.
Flower
Tough guys (like graffiti artists wearing copper Pumas) have a soft spot for beauty, too.
Angel
The meaning here is apparent as it’s a memorial to a peer who died.
But while I would argue that there’s value in Banksy’s art, some British councils disagree and feel that all graffiti is vandalism that must be covered for fear that it will make residents and visitors feel unsafe or that by leaving it they may encourage comparable acts by others of unlike talent. We took a few snaps of other graffiti artists’ work today as we wandered in search of Banksy’s and it’s sometimes difficult to draw a line on what is beautiful or meaningful and what is not. To keep Banksy’s work would encourage others who are not of like talent to try their hand to reach similar fame.What’s your take?
Click here to see additional photos of Banksy’s street art.
Note works by other street artists to the right — Oscar the Grouch and Cat Cowboys. Click here to see photos of other London street art.