Back on page 16 I did a piece on Banksy and King Robbo, link here:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/street-art.221565/post-4989555,
and in it I pondered who at each of London's separate 30 or so Boroughs, decided what pieces of street art or graffiti were allowed to remain, and what was removed. Some Council's realise street art adds value to the area, and brings in tourists and other visitors who seek it out. Other Council's are much less tolerant. I came across the following article this week, (which features the giant chihuahua in Popular we've seen and discussed on recent pages) and was pleased to see that Tower Hamlets, the Council in which the giant chihuahua is located, have delegated the decision on evaluating artistic merit to local art and youth groups. Well played Tower Hamlets
, lets hope this progressive stance influences some other boroughs. This is quite a balanced article by the Evening Standard's standards, and muses over the question I asked in the first post of this thread, is it art or vandalism.
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/graffiti-art-or-vandalism-london-a4119231.html
At the other end of the scale, one Council who have a pretty intolerant view on street art and graffiti, and cycling for that matter, as shown here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...ls-actions-show-it-puts-cars-first-not-people is Westminster.
Marble Arch is one such place I'd never expect to see any street art or graffiti permitted, any done there I'd expect it to be removed ASAP. But last week it was squatted and camped on by the Extinction Rebellion protest. (This pic is from Waterloo not Marble Arch)
They may have vacated, but evidence of their occupation still remains on the grass.
And on the local London news last night, they had a report that a possible new Banksy had appeared at the site. I went and had a look today. Is it a Banksy, or a Banksy-alike, was he at the protest? Was he in one of the tents on the above site? How did he do it unnoticed in the middle of a massive protest, and under the gaze of loads of police, CCTV and the world's press? Who knows. It not big, its on the bottom left of this pic next to the famous arch.
*zoom*
Banksy is still the only person I've seen have his works preserved behind perspex, in a number of different London boroughs. His Basqiat one at the Barbican on the link I posted above, was covered in perspex within a week or two of being finished. There was more people taking pictures of the Banksy today than there was the famous arch, which I'm sure Westminster are seething about
. There is a Banksy in Westminster, but its not protected, and it probably only remains as its high up and awkward to get to. Seen again here from back on page 6.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/street-art.221565/post-4909879
It will be interesting to see what happens with this one, I'll try and pass by occasionally over the coming weeks to see if it survives.
, and because it shows London old and new, which is a good backdrop for a message that's highlighting this is a problem that affects everybody.
