The answer is there are a lot of protective screens. But here's how the graffiti art looked when it went up and was fresh and surprising:
ADDED: I think they should have been left unprotected. Let them live and die like other graffiti.
August 1, 2022
"Over the course of a week last summer, a number of street art pieces appeared in seemingly random parts of Norfolk and Suffolk."
"The artworks were eventually verified by Banksy, but the fate of each piece varied drastically. What has become of them - one year on?"
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I think those were remarkable images. One of the protective attempts, the one with chain link fence, was awful though.
In Philly we have a huge mural arts program that over the last 2-3 decades has covered possibly hundreds of vacant exterior walls with art, some good and some not good. The program inevitably gets politicized though, from what I can tell.
1. Protective screens for graffiti?
2. I think Althouse has a copyright infringement claim for that rat. See Netflix post above.
3. Thank God we separated from the Brits.
It amazes me what some can create with canned spray paint.
In Detroit, there's a long-running outdoor art project in the City. The Heidelberg Project. Tyree Guyton is the artist behind it. If you read the timeline, it's an interesting history on politics and politicians in Detroit and how they get in the way of everything...including art.
"It amazes me what some can create with canned spray paint."
Key element: stencils.
I am against graffiti art of another person’s art such as the statue in the video. If graffiti artists won’t protect the art of others then what claim do they have to protection of their graffiti? Although it is difficult to define the rules, I also think graffiti artists should ask permission of building/structure owners. I believe there are laws for the practice/hobby of using metal detectors to find ancient coins in farm and pasture lands. Perhaps application of those laws to graffiti would be a reasonable compromise and enable the artists of graffiti (versus the taggers) to thrive.
I think he often begins with a photograph or an old illustration, makes it into a stencil, then spray paints black through that stencil. After that, all that's needed is the white highlights, done, I think, freehand. That gives the style its uniform look.
If you watch the video, you'll get a good idea about why the act of putting it on the wall is done quickly, and he can get away with it. He's working in daylight too, which is helping him not be detected.
Banksy gets my vote as a true original. His originality is not only through his art, but his entire lifestyle, the context that he presents to the public via his various sales, administrative and support businesses. In this respect, his very life and lifestyle are part of his art. He reminds me of Picasso in this way, equally independent and scornful of convention at every facet and opportunity.
Ann Althouse said...
I think he often begins with a photograph or an old illustration, makes it into a stencil, then spray paints black through that stencil. After that, all that's needed is the white highlights, done, I think, freehand. That gives the style its uniform look.
An anecdote that supports this...
I had a meeting in NYC during the time Banksy had his month long residence in 2013. I had lunch at the food court in The Plaza and walked across the street to the corner of the park where the vendors hang out. I was stopped in my tracks when I saw the kiosk that looked exactly like this. My head was trying to tell me this was legit Banksy- the lines were clean and sharp and too good to be faked by a huckster. I was fumbling in my pocket for cash to buy a couple- I was already negotiating for the 'this is not a photo op' sign in my head along with another one. If I had had more cash the than cabfare back to LaGuradia....
The 'official' history tells me the real Banksy kiosk was two days prior to my visit but at the time I didn't recall it had been reported yet. It had to have been a copycat, right? That's what I tell myself now, anyways...
A Banksy showed up in an alley a couple blocks from my place in Back Bay a few years ago. Surprisingly it lasted several days before people started messing with it...
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