Tag: Banksy

Thief busted stealing Banksy art in Ukraine

5 Comments

The ringleader of a group that allegedly tried to steal a Banksy mural from a wall in Ukraine could face up to 12 years in prison, the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement Monday.

The suspect, who has not been named, was served a “notice of suspicion” after police detained the alleged thieves attempting to remove the artwork from a house destroyed by Russian shelling in the city of Hostomel last month.

Depicting a woman in a gas mask carrying a fire extinguisher, the mural is one of several works completed by the British street artist in cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, following Russia’s invasion.

Modern communications let folks know about everything of interest around this silly planet. If you know where to look.

Even the bad guys!

Banksy mural in liberated Ukrainian town

3 Comments

Renowned street artist Banksy has unveiled his latest artwork in an Instagram post — a mural in the liberated Ukrainian town of Borodianka.

The artwork shows a female gymnast balancing on a pile of rubble on the side of a building damaged by Russian strikes.

The graffiti artist posted three images of the piece Friday on social media, with a simple caption reading “Borodyanka, Ukraine,” using an alternative spelling for the town’s name…

Borodianka was hit particularly hard by Russian airstrikes at the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February, with many buildings reduced to piles of rubble by long-range attacks.

Artistic talent can offtimes find a way to bring beauty to the ugliness created by the worst of us.

Banksy blocked from trademark rights over some of his most famous works

2 Comments

Banksy can no longer claim legal rights to his artwork, experts say after he was stripped of two more trademarks for some of his most famous graffiti.

The two latest rulings against the anonymous multi-millionaire street artists means he has now lost rights to four of his works…

Full Colour Black, a British greeting cards company which recreates his works for sale, has successfully persuaded the EU to cancel trademarks he obtained three years ago for the Radar Rat and Girl with an Umbrella, the Telegraph can reveal…

Banksy’s lawyers argued unsuccessfully that “an anti-establishment viewpoint does not prevent a party from utilising establishment mechanisms to further their view”.

Anyone surprised that British courts ruled in favor of corporate thieves?

Thanks, Honeyman

Extinction Rebellion mural is a Banksy

1 Comment


Click to enlarge — Isabel Infantes/AFP

❝ A Banksy collector and expert believes a mural that appeared at Extinction Rebellion’s Marble Arch base overnight is an authentic piece by the Bristolian street artist.

❝ John Brandler, who owns a dozen pieces by Banksy is convinced the artwork – which features the slogan “From this moment despair ends and tactics begin” next to a young girl sitting on the ground holding an Extinction Rebellion logo – is an original because of its execution and theme.

Good enough for me. And sock it to the pollution pimps!

Banksy Brexit mural appears in Dover

3 Comments

❝ A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy showing a metalworker chipping away at a star on the EU flag has appeared in Dover.

The artwork emerged overnight on the Castle Amusements building near the ferry terminal, which connects the UK with mainland Europe.

❝ The mural, which was confirmed by Banksy’s representatives to be a genuine work by the elusive artist, is his first comment on the Brexit vote last year.

Thanks, Honeyman

Banksy opens hotel overlooking Bethlehem’s apartheid wall

Leave a comment


Worst view in the world — Quique Kierszenbaum/Guardian

Click to enlarge

❝ The Walled Off hotel may sound utilitarian, even bleak. Its owner says it has “the worst view of any hotel in the world”, while its 10 rooms get just 25 minutes of direct sunlight a day.

But, nestled against the controversial barrier wall separating Israel from the Palestinian territories, the West Bank’s answer to the Waldorf offers travellers something more elusive than any luxury destination.

The lodging in Bethlehem is a hotel, museum, protest and gallery all in one, packed with the artworks and angry brilliance of its owner, British street artist Banksy.

❝ From the disconcertingly lavish presidential suite where water splashes from a bullet-strafed watertank into the hot tub, to the bunk-beds in the budget room scavenged from an abandoned army barracks, the hotel is playful and strongly political.

All the rooms look out on to the concrete slabs of the wall and some have views over it to pill boxes and an Israeli settlement – illegal under international law – on the hillside beyond.

❝ Banksy’s reputation is likely to keep all rooms fully booked, but he wants guests to leave with more than just a selfie. “It’s a three-storey cure for fanaticism, with limited car parking,” he added in the statement.

The hotel opens to guests on 20 March, with bookings via the website. The team hope Israelis, who rarely see the barrier wall up close or visit Palestinian towns, will be among the guests, even though visiting means breaking the law…

Israelis are banned from visiting Bethlehem and its famous sites. And although Banksy has chosen a site officially under Israeli military control – meaning it is legal for Israelis to stay there – all the roads to reach it involve an illegal journey through Palestinian-controlled territory.

RTFA. Learn a little more about life in what American politicians uniformly call the leading middle East democracy.

Thanks, Honeyman –

– and just because you’re now certified for Level 1 Superbikes doesn’t mean you can double the speed limits in Tasmania! 🙂