russianbob – Member
The thing that **** me off about Banksy is that other, much better, street artists are jailed and worse (when you get the BTP involved) and he’s lauded as some kind of genius.
‘Better’ is entirely subjective, and if they were smarter, they wouldn’t get caught, would they.
Banksy has done more to open people up to accepting quality street art, especially in Bristol, where an entire street was set aside for a street art festival. That street is now being redeveloped, but some of the art is being kept.
Banksy’s skill is sharp wit and social comment, others paint extraordinary murals, and it can be argued that we in the UK are only now catching up with other European countries in using quality street art to brighten up otherwise pretty grim areas of grey concrete.
This is along the side of a pretty uninspiring building in Nelson Street, Bristol, and vastly improves the look of the place.
The weekend it was done, thousands of people visited the area, there was a real street party atmosphere, and local traders and pubs did great business.
But hey, it’s vandalism, isn’t it? 🙄