BANKSY
There is something in all of us that loves to love a
criminal, one with good intentions of course. (Did I wake you up with that
proclamation?). Don’t be so aghast, you know you have always found yourself
rooting for the archetypal Robinhood or drawn to the bad guy in a film or TV show as long as
his intentions were sound (who doesn’t want to blur the lines and buck the
system now and then).
A recent article in the press brought to light one such
‘criminal,’as the government deems him, (everyone else refers to him as an artist,
politician and documentarian), and showed yet again how his life’s work has had
a positive influence on society at large. No stranger to press, Banksy, as he is well known around
the world, has spent his life in anonymity. His grafitti art for that matter is
anything but. Harkening from Bristol, England in 1974, Banksy has become
synonymous with social satire, political activism and contemptuous rebellion in
the form of street art and installations. In the last few years he's branched out to filmmaking and had a documentary film nominated for the Academy Award. The mere fact that he’s managed to do
all this and remain anonymous is by and large a reason to admire the man.
Recently, a piece of his graffiti art has come under dispute between a
Bristol Boy's Club and the Bristol City Council. The piece reffered to as the
Mobile Lovers was admittedly painted by Banksy in the doorway of the Boys Club.
The Council of course was soon to step forward and try to stake claim to the
piece saying it was on their property. Coming out of hiding, so to speak, to pen
a letter, Banksy wrote to the head of the boys club, a move that surprised many
as it is very out of character, and said the Boys Club could do “what they feel
is right” with the piece. Dennis Stinchcombe, the head of the Club was
understandably delighted upon receiving the letter.
In the letter, Banksy not only admitted to “committing
criminal damage” but stated that he is a huge admirer of the Boys Club and wanted
to help raise funds for them in any way he could. The letter ends (in kick ass
fashion I must say) with a quote from
Abraham Lincoln which states, “'Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by
those who hustle." As I said, you have to love the man’s chutzpah.
Dennis
Stinchcombe was told the work could fetch up to £4 million pounds, which as you
can imagine would be a definitive boost to the financial bottom line of the
club. He also claimed that Banksy in his youth was a frequent visitor
to several boys clubs in Bristol, including one he ran, and his support of them through his art is
nothing less than ‘lovely.’ Said like a true Englishman.
Obviously
someone like Banksy is a controversial figure by the sheer nature of what he
does to public buildings, bridges and landmarks, but it must be said, that most
of our history’s rebellious activists did just that, they channeled their
message through a medium that would reach the most people and truly piss off
the establishment. Go on, admit it, it makes the little rebel inside of you
smile just a little bit, doesn’t it?