Banksy Graffiti Artist

I’ve found this piece of art yesterday night (Feb 21st 2012) by accident as I was surfing Hackney by car in search of graffiti. When I saw it I almost had no doubt it was made by Banksy, and as it took me a good hour to find this first and only painting in Hackney, I interpreted it not only as the sign of the end of free art – this would be no news! – but also as the end of street art. All in all this classic looking artist is not trying to paint a beauty on a canvas, but a rebel sign on a public wall, while his leg is locked with this ball with the money sign. So when I associate all this with the fact that all Hackney walls are now purified from graffiti, I’m just left with the impression that art was finally killed, both indoor and in the streets.
Ciao,
Nicola Principato

A humorous piece of street art by the famous Banksy. Of course the humour inherent is enjoyable - a sort of in-joke with the artist and the viewer - and it’s always fun to stumble upon street art in a city. The only downside is the overwhelming popularity of Banksy has somewhat detracted from his underground, graffiti street art style in my opinion.

Ha ha, How can you not find this funny! There are many different interpreations of this image (as showm by moonrising) such as: is Banksy criticsing the modern art world and establishment, does Banksy have any respect for the traditional artists and is the art world dominated by money. After a recent Sotheby’s sale with works from Damien Hirst totalling over £100 million it seems he might have a point!

Here Banksy rather humorously juxtaposes the cliché artist, with moustache, beret and palette, working on a decidedly less high brow art work depicting a scribble of a huge male member. The artist is also wearing a ball and chain, with a dollar sign on the ball. I’m not sure what conclusion I’d want to draw, but I guess the piece certainly summarises the debates about Banksy himself. Art or just daubs? Pretensions of grandeur? Destroyed by money, or elevated beyond his natural position by the hype?

A couple of changes have been made. The council (apparently) have partially obscured the male member, though it’s still pretty clear what it’s meant to represent. As for the person who’s added their opinion that Banksy is a **, I don’t think they’ve given much thought to what they are doing. Their banal addition rather demonstrates they are the one with pretensions of grandeur if they think they can comment!

This is on the side of a restaurant on the junction of Shafton Road and Victoria Park Road.