One of Wanksy’s Banksy’s pieces of vandalism works of art has been painted over.
One of street artist Banksy’s most famous early works in Bristol has been mistakenly painted over.
The gorilla in a pink mask on the wall of the ex-North Bristol Social Club, in Eastville, had been a familiar landmark in the area for more than 10 years.
Yes, and it was part of the urban decay that makes the place look like the dump that it is.
The new owner of the vandalised property didn’t realise that it was a work of art. It wasn’t. And, frankly, the wall looks much better for its fresh coat of paint.
New owner Saeed Ahmed assumed it was a regular piece of graffiti and had it painted over. “I thought it was worthless,” he said.
It was.
He added: “I didn’t know it was valuable and that’s why I painted over it. I really am sorry if people are upset.”
Don’t be, you were right the first time. That whitewash is a vast, vast improvement.
You’re going to hate the ‘See no Evil’ international street art event in Nelson Street next month aren’t you?
Hmmmm – half and half on this one.
Maybe someone would also like to reclaim and recycle that rusty iron thing stuck on a hillside near the A1.
He should just be grateful that Damien Hirst didn’t stick a bloody great big shark to the wall.
His wall, he doesn’t have to apologise to anyone. Personally I quite like a lot of Banksy’s stuff, and I’d say it is a work of art when compared with those barely legible tags you see sprayed or scratched over everything. Still, I’m not sure how you can say that a Banksy has any value when he used someone else’s wall as a canvas and you can’t really buy it and take it home with you.
Several have been removed and are sold. A bit harder than taking a picture down, but not impossible.
Although why anyone would want a piece of tacky graffiti is beyond me.
Amazing what things that people with money will buy isn’t it?
“Although why anyone would want a piece of tacky graffiti is beyond me.”
In other words, “stop liking things I don’t like”.
Er, no. Stop vandalising other people’s property. And it is tacky graffiti, which is vandalism.
Don’t put words into my mouth, thankyou very much.
I never got Banksy. Seemed very much a metropolitan Guardianista phenomenon.
No, he’s not an artist, he’s a posh vandaliser. Just because it might look nice to some people doesn’t mean it’s not a criminal offence.
Well you’re right it’s his wall and he shouldn’t apologise but you’re wrong in saying it wasn’t valuable. Just because _you_ place no value on it does not make it worthless. Banksy originals are worth quite a bit. Full stop.
Z
If we were discussing a canvas, you would have a point. However, this image was daubed onto the side of a building. Given that this is likely to be a supporting wall, removal and sale is pretty impracticable (although not impossible – however, this would be costly). To all intents and purposes, sale of the image is a non starter. Therefore, it is worthless.
Banksy’s “art” is a classic example of the Emperor having no clothes. That his amateurish daubs sell for large sums of money merely confirms that some people have more money than sense.
People _have_ removed his art from buildings and sold on – so at least in some cases there must be profit to be made!
“merely confirms that some people have more money than sense.”
That I wouldn’t dispute!
Z.
That’s going to depend on what it is attached to. A free standing wall may well be an option – the side of a building, particuarly if it is a supporting wall will involve thousands of pounds worth of work, thereby undermining any profit to be made (not to mention undermining the integrity of the building).
Well, if it’ll double the value of my house, Banksy can come round and daub on my wall any time! 😆