What do you think of 'Banksy'?

[danlightbulb]

Banksy's urban tree artwork defaced with white paint

Tall metal fencing is put up around the mural and tree after the artwork is strewn with paint.

www.bbc.co.uk

Another 'artwork' appeared in London followed promptly by being defaced.

What is the difference between this and run of the mill graffiti?

What is the difference between Banksy doing this artwork, which is applauded, and then the defacement of the said artwork, which is condemned?

Councils are quick enough to erect fencing around these artworks, even security guards I believe in some cases, yet they don't make the same effort to protect other buildings/objects from vandalism.


Double standards in my opinion.

 

[danlightbulb]

Confirmed Banksy artwork is worth a lot money and draws tourists to the area.

Is it technically criminal activity, or not?

In this most recent case, it looks to be on the side of a house. Would that have increased the value of the house in question, if somehow the art could be protected sufficiently to be able to sell the house with it on?

But a buyer of a house like that would taken on a huge liability too, trying to continually protect something like that out in an exposed public place.

 

[danlightbulb]

Normal graffiti lowers the value of your house. Banksy graffiti raises the value of it massively.

I’d love him to come and deface the side of my house

But you'd have to spend a lot of money trying to protect it. Would you be able to afford it?

 

[danlightbulb]

Technically it is graffiti

Whereas much graffiti reduces the value of what it is placed on his increases it so it's not really the same.

So it's ok to commit a crime if it makes you money?

Tongue in cheek but obviously it happens a lot so...

 

[danlightbulb]

Another thing I find strange is there are never any witnesses to him doing the work. I assume he comes very well prepared so he is in and out quite quickly, but still, in the middle of a residential area you'd think someone would see it.

 

[danlightbulb]

Simple stencil graffiti can take literally 30 seconds or less, maybe 3 or 4 minutes for something complicated with a few different stencil layers - it's not hard to go unnoticed for a few minutes

Even getting ladders off the van etc? It's quite high up what's he's done there with the tree.