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Banksy’s Response

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New York is very well known for the street art, be it 12 year old rappers and break dancers performing on the subway trains, or the 65 year old jazz men playing in trios and quartets in the stations underground.  Classical musicians play on the street corners and drummers perform in Washington Square Park.  One year ago, a different kind of street artist came to town, and did what he was not expected to do.  Banksy, is a well known graffiti artist from Bristol, England.  His work is well known that is, for his real name and even what he looks like remains a mystery.  His work is seen on buildings around the world, very stylized and well executed, and most often politically and satirical and filled with his ironic wit.  However for his first official show in New York, he did something different.

A fake pet store was created, with the name “The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill“  Actors were hired to play the pet store employees.  And what resulted was a strange mix of animated sculptures, poking fun at the relationship humans have with their pets.  Many who traveled to the show in 2008, and managed to find a room at a best New York City hotel, were not disappointed.  One of the pieces had hot dogs dancing around and playing in a terrarium.  One piece was of the cartoon character Tweety Bird, now old and grey and sad, swinging on his swing, in the cage looking miserable.  Another piece, had a mother chicken, watching over her “young”, two chicken nuggets trying to get a packet of ketchup open.  Set amongst these sculptures, are real pet supplies, cat and dog food.

Upon being questioned about his exhibit, Bansky responded that it is his belief that New Yorkers care about their pets more than they care about art.  So he put them on display instead.  This is Banksy’s sense of ironic humor, but some New Yorkers were not pleased with the controversial tones of some of the pieces.  He said that he was just questioning ethics.  While people have pets, and take care of them by buying necessary items in pet stores, factory farming remains big business.  Many of those in the art world believe however that this may have been Banksy’s response to the fact that his pieces painted on walls of buildings, are often times auctioned off right where they stand.  Those who do purchase the pieces then have the task of figuring out how to get the walls down with the murals intact.  Banksy receives no compensation for this, so some believe that this was his way of ‘sticking it to’ the auctioneers who have been making large profits off of his work for years.

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Tags: Banksy, Bristol, England, New York, paintings

1 Comment to Banksy’s Response

1. 

   Banksy Prints – Diana Ten Pound Note’s

   Hi Everyone!

   I am selling some of my Banksy collection they are Di-Faced Tenners prints.

   They are in perfect condition (mint) and I have kept them in an acid free folder and my home is smoke free.

   Please see the photos and video here:
   http://www.banksytenners.blogspot.com/

   Payment via Pay Pal of bank transfer.

   Contact me – banksytenners (@) gmail (dot com)

   I accept payment by PayPal =)

   Thanks !
Banksy Tenners on May 25th, 2009

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