well the backlash has begun. it’s amazing how success breeds contempt. it’s not like banksy isn’t taking the piss out of the current mania surrounding his art; he appears to be fully aware of the situation and by all accounts is directing some of the ill-gained profits to good causes. other artists are benefitting from ‘the banksy effect’ as people are brought into the scene yet can’t afford the only graf artist they know and look around for something more affordable. exhibitions are springing up everywhere with graf works for sale and knowledge about the scene is slowly disseminating. so quite why people are taking it all so badly, i don’t know?

people are making it known that they are upset by banksy for some reason, leaving comments around his work. this recently in bristol. and if that wasn’t enough, now they’re taking to vandalising his work:

this piece was recently saved from the anti-graffiti squad, and rightly so, only to be spoilt by this mindless act. no amount of political posturing will make up for such an act. fact is, this represented one of his few remaining early pieces and demonstrated his skills with the spraycan. it was so good, the person whose wall it was painted on refused to sell it to anyone wishing to buy his house but remove the graffiti. let’s face it, it was actually worth nothing. no one could buy it and take it away with them and it was always susceptible to the elements, but this is simply stupid. even if banksy did it himself, it’s stupid. i know by the very nature of graffiti work is not meant to stand forever, but there seems no point in removing/spoiling pieces prematurely. cato street and st mark’s avenue are well loved by the locals, who helped bring about the commissioned murals, so an attack on this is an attack on the community. and i object.

just like artists in the music biz, it’s possible that banksy’s earlier work will be viewed as the good stuff, but, like songs by bowie and the beatles, when they’re good they’re great, so why spoil it?

and now, what is left?