Tag Archives: Banksy

Street, streets, Uncategorized

Streets: New Banksy in Dover

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Banksy Dover.jpg

As the UK heads towards a general election and Britain prepares to leave the EU, a three-storey version of the European Union flag appeared painted on to a residential building, on Saturday morning, near the ferry port off the A20 in the Kent seaside town of Dover. The mural features a monochrome stencilled image of a man chiseling off one of the 12 stars.  The anonymous artist later confirmed his ownership by publishing two photos of the painting on his Instagram feed and website.

Photo: Banksy’s website

Uncategorized

Bethlehem: Banksy opens The Walled Off Hotel

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10 years after his first initiative in Bethlehem, elusive British artist Banksy has returned to unveiled his latest project: The Walled Off Hotel , with 10 rooms nestled against the controversial barrier wall separating Israel from the Palestinian territories.

Located in the historic city, the hotel with its nine rooms for £30 a night and one presidential suite, will be open for bookings on its website later this month. It’s a real business adventure, aiming to bring jobs and tourists to a town whose pilgrim and sightseeing-based economy has been ravaged by ever tighter Israeli controls on travel between Israeli and Palestinian territories.

There have been few reasons for Israelis to visit Bethlehem in recent years, because they are banned by law from visiting the town and all its main tourist sites.

It contains dozens of Banksy works, a themed bar and interactive exhibits.  One depicts the signing of the Balfour Declaration which set the conditions for the establishment of Israel 100 years ago this year.

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The hotel has been “decorated to resemble an English gentlemen’s club from colonial times” in recognition of the historical role Britain played in the region.

Banksy says people from all sides of the Middle East conflict are welcome to stay, and he is not affiliated to any political party or pressure group.

From the 11th March the museum and art gallery will be open to non-residents every day. Guests can peruse a collection of Banksy artworks that include vandalised oil paintings and statues choking on tear gas fumes. The gallery space enjoys complete autonomy from the rest of the hotel and is curated by the venerated historian and critic Ismal Duddera. He has assembled a permanent collection of real heft and significance. Many of the most notable Palestinian artists from the past 20 years are here – including Sliman Mansour with his iconic “And the Convoy Keeps Going”. An adjoining space is dedicated to temporary shows by upcoming artists.

The museum is dedicated solely to the biography of the wall. It contains state-of-the-art audio visual presentations and a very old tree. Other highlights includes an animated history of the region, military pornography and original beach sculpture from Gaza. The cinema plays excerpts from the mighty Oscar nominated ‘Five Broken Cameras’ – and one of those very same bullet-damaged cameras is on display.
Curated in association with Dr Gavin Grindon from Essex University the museum contains almost fully fact-checked material and will be an ongoing repository for local stories, artefacts and testimonies.

The Hotel also features a graffiti supplies store called ‘Wall – Mart’ that will launch on 20th March, providing supplies for clients who want to paint the Wall nearby.

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Photo credit: The Guardian / The Walled Off Hotel

The Walled Off Hotel
182 Caritas Street, Bethlehem, Palestine

www.walledoffhotel.com

Auctions

London: Banksy SWAT van to be auctioned

Banksy SWAT Van

A van that was once used by the SWAT team and then spraypainted by elusive artist Banksy is to be auctioned in London at Bonhams on 29 June.

It was first displayed at the infamous Barely Legal exhibition in Los Angeles back in 2006,  where Banksy also featured a live painted elephant in the room.

On one side of the van, Banksy has spraypainted heavily armed special forces agents being hoodwinked by a small boy. On the other, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz is caught in a storm of graffiti. On the back it says: How’s My Bombing? Call 1-800-648-0403.

Ralph Taylor, senior director of  Bonhams’ postwar and contemporary art department, called it “probably the most significant piece by the artist to ever come to auction and without doubt the most ambitious”.  The work has been verified by Pest Control Office and comes with an estimate of £200,000-300,000.

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Photo credit: Butterfly & Bonhams

Update: The Banksy SWAT van sold for £218,500 inc. premium.

Bristol

Streets: Banksy at Bridge Farm Primary School (Bristol)

Banksy Square (Large)

Banksy is back to his hometown in Bristol with a new piece that appeared overnight  on the wall of Bridge Farm Primary School.

The work was done as a thank you gift to the children that named one of the houses after him. A few weeks ago, the school ran a competition to change house names and the school officials wrote to Banksy’s team to let him know about it.

The doodle-style mural depicts a kid rolling a burning tire next to a house and flower, like a tongue in cheek  comment on the current society and riots.

The work was accompanied by a hand written letter by Banksy which reads :

“Dear Bridge Farm School, thanks for your letter and naming a house after me.
Please have a picture, and if you don’t like it, feel free to add stuff. I’m sure the teachers won’t mind. Remember, it’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission.  Much love, Banksy.”

Banksy Letter (Large)Banksy Whole (Large)Banksy Signature (1)            Banksy Flower (1)Banksy Tyre (Large)Banksy Oblique (Large)

Photo credit: Feralthings

London, Shows

London: Still Here, A Decade of Lazarides

A decade of Lazarides

Until 24th March 2016, Lazarides is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a group exhibition ‘Still Here – A Decade of Lazarides’.
For the landmark exhibition, celebrated and pioneering artists who have helped shape the gallery are taking over the Rathbone space in London over three floors.

Featuring 3D, Aiko, Anthony Lister, Antony Micallef, Banksy, Brett Amory, Chloe Early, David Choe, Doug Foster, Faile, Frank Laws, Gary Taxali, Herbert Baglione, Hush, Ian Francis, Invader, Joe Rush, Jonathan Yeo, JR, Karim Zeriahen, Katrin Fridriks, Know Hope / Addam Y, Lucy McLauchlan, Marcus Jansen, Mark Jenkins, Miaz Brothers, Mode 2, Nina Pandolfo, Oliver Jeffers, Pete Hawkins, Ron English, Sage Vaughn, Scott Campbell, Sickboy, Stanley Donwood, TEACH, Todd James / REAS, Vhils, Xenz, Zevs

A decade of Lazarides
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View the full set of pics here