And this was the new activism?
This just about sums up the Torygraph, doesn’t it? They’ve managed to take the thoroughly anti-establishment act of scrawling on walls - and turned it into a discussion on investment.
More seriously, this upsets me. I knew Banksy had effectively become a part of the artistic establishment, albeit an unconventional one. I’d no idea that the sorts of people who bought public artwork and hoarded it for the sake of their wallets were looking to expand, though.
Doesn’t this really run counter to the whole point of guerrilla art? Quite aside from the fact most of it tends to be left-wing and anti-capitalist, it’s also very deliberately public. It’s a very public political statement or protest. People are meant to see it.
So, buying it up and taking away kinda defeats it, you know?
Of course, you could claim that it’s okay, the statement’s already been made, it doesn’t matter after that. But, frankly, that’s rubbish. The statement is meant to stay there, in the public view, for all to see. Many of these “collectors” can’t even claim that they’re buying the art because they enjoy it - certainly not those taking their mark from the Telegraph. It’s quite openly scathing of it, and is very clear that it’s in it for the money.
This is nothing less than a complete subversion of the movement. It’s taking a blod, anti-establishment movement - and making it yet another part of that establishment’s money-making machine. But then again, I suppose that’s just what the Torygraph wants, isn’t it?
Maybe someone needs to infiltrate their press soon…
“So Banksy, if you can afford him, may still be a viable investment.”
It hurts, it hurts…Please make it end…