Murals, purportedly the handiwork of Banksy, have been popping up all over the county this week.
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But who cares if they’re his or not?
All of his artwork draws on blindingly obvious themes. They either say nothing of significance, or something better said by someone else first.
All Banksy art is good for is to take a photo with and upload to Instagram.
If you're lucky, it’s something which temporarily justifies your town’s existence because the great Banksy visited and condescended to draw on one of its walls.
But we’re all being mocked, because his art is about as unique as IKEA furniture.
His work is derivative, and only draws attention to what everyone is already thinking.
Even just a quick wander through St Stephen’s underpass would show how much better and more incisive our own Norwich graffiti artists are than this nameless Bristol one-time hipster.
We don’t know which of the recent murals are genuine. So let’s look at his track record.
A mural of Steve Jobs – son of a Syrian migrant – in the Calais jungle to “show the benefits of migration”. Acute political commentary there, Banksy.
And the reindeer “pulling” the bench where the homeless Birmingham man slept to show the plight of rough sleeping at Christmas. Wow. Before Banksy's installation, did anyone even know homelessness was less-than-ideal?
Or what about the Black Lives Matter work showing a candle burning an American flag, with a frame of a black man thought to be George Floyd positioned below?
Such an original take, and one which really added to a debate simply gagging for Banksy’s involvement!
Anonymity provides all his attraction. If we knew who he was, his art wouldn’t be valued.
The whole thing is delusional self-grandeur.
He’s far too tame and too cliched to make a difference. But hey, as long as he helps tourism right?
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