Fans To Stop Westminster Council From Destroying This Valuable Work Of Art
A new work by the artist Banksy has appeared in Fitzrovia during last week’s Easter break. The work features his trademark stenciled rat in in black and white with a blood red paw print and slogan, “If Graffiti changed anything – It would be illegal. ” This is a striking addition to to what already amounts to a substantial body of work in the capital. It is thought that the motivation behind this latest street piece reworks an old anarchist slogan coined by the Russian-Canadian political activist Emma Goldman “If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.” The piece seems to be a reference to a spate of recent arrests of LA street artists such as, Invader and Revok who are involved with the current LA Museum of Contemporary Art show. The rat has already appeared in a number of Banksy works and is typical of of a genuine painting by this elusive artist.
The ‘Urban Art’ movement has led to an unprecedented popularity not seen since Andy Warhol and the Pop Art explosion in the 1960’s. Much of Banksy’s work is injected with irony, a political edge and a sense of humour which evokes an urge to declare it as artistic genius. A few years ago people were mentioning Banksy in the same sentence as Warhol and at this stage time will be the judge. With strong auction results he is a force to be reckoned with.
One of Banksy’s most iconic and controversial works, ‘Gay Bobbies,’ a mural which has attracted tourists and art lovers from around the globe is to be auctioned next month in New York. The work which was painted outside the popular Prince Albert pub in Brighton is expected to earn the pub Landlord up to $1.6 million. The work, executed in 2004, features two policeman locked in an embrace and passionately kissing. Another work by the artist titled “Keep it Spotless” showing a French Maid lifting a Damien Hirst painting and sweeping dirt behind the curtain. It sold in New York in 2008 for £1.13m.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the work, better hurry before Westminster council gets the power washers out. It’s located on the corner of Clipstone and Cleveland Streets in Fitzrovia W1.This is the second large work by Banksy to appear in Fitzrovia. A previous artwork titled One Nation Under CCTV was removed by the Council after it insisted that it shouldn’t have been created without planning permission.
The Facebook group SOSA Save Our Street Art urges readers to email Westminster Council to protect quality street from council vandals.
Join Today: SOSA (Save Our Street Art)
Westminster Council should be covering the work with Plexiglas not power washing it from the wall. Camden councillor Adam Harrison is now backing conservation for the work. Sign The Petition