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Why Banksy's fans are going bananas
Last updated at 23:37pm on 19.04.07For more than five years, John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson wielded their bananas menacingly by a road junction in Central London.
Spray-painted on the side of an electricity substation by the infamous graffiti artist Banksy, the image of the Pulp Fiction stars became world famous.
Countless fans came to visit the Old Street site and prints of the image sold for more than £1,000 each.
However, earlier this month a group of Transport for London workers were instructed to spruce up the area - and painted over the Banksy with whitewash.
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Pulp art: Banksy's Pulp Fiction spoof as it appeared on a wall near Old Street Tube station for more than five years
Since then another, seemingly less accomplished, artist has re-covered the wall and scrawled the words 'Come Back' over the top.
These developments have horrified admirers of Banksy, whose identity has never been convincingly established but whose works have fetched six-figure sums. Owners of his paintings include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jude Law.
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Cover-up: the wall now, painted over by workers and then by vandals
A friend of the artist said the Pulp Fiction image would could have fetched £300,000 if it had been bought in situ or relocated.
He added: "This piece was the most iconic of all Banksy's work. It's inexcusable that it's been ruined.
"Everyone could see it as they walked to Old Street Tube station - it was a famous piece. You wouldn't paint over a Van Gogh and nor should you paint over a Banksy."
Transport for London was unapologetic about its actions.
A spokesman said: "We take a tough line on removing graffiti because it creates a general atmosphere of neglect and social decay which in turn encourages crime.
"We have no intention of changing this policy. We recognise that there are those who view Banksy's work as legitimate art, but sadly our graffiti removal teams are staffed by professional cleaners not professional art critics."
Reader views (8)
What Banksy does is not vandalism it's art. He is a far cry from normal graffiti artist's because, their main objective is to mess things up and to "get up" and famous, or rather infamous in the graffiti society. Banksy, instead of trashing things and vandalizing property, paints art not mindless aerosol scribbles. His art is aesthetically pleasing. And it makes you stop and look and take time out of your busy schedule and see an image that not only makes you laugh but makes you think. To me that goes beyond graffiti that is art. It may be done so in a illegal sense but it's certainly not symbolizing the social decay, it symbolises the creativity and thinking out of the box, which we all need to do sometimes.
I am an obviously big fan of Banksy, but I'm only stating my opinion on his work and I dont mean to offend anyone.
- Danny Mclaughlin, London, UK
Even a banksy doesn't go for as much as TfL needs to spend on cleaning up on graffiti.
What is the problem with it being ephemeral and Molly and others are right - the problem with any "graffiti" art - be it banksy or whoever - is that it then gets tagged or "wannaby" attempts ruin it anyway.
My local tube station, which had just been refurbed got completely tagged and it was trashed - so for once TfL is in the right. Let banksy be as he was intended.
- Jc, London
What are you people on about. Because someone sprays some trash on a wall and really "intelligent" celebrities buy prints of it, it doesn't make it art, it is still grotty graffiti. I assume that none of you are as lucky as me to live on a nice council estate which is covered in works of art, would you like to swap homes with me?
- Paul Urban, London, UK
The problem with Banksy's graffiti is that people tag all over them and thus they just become a mess, which, to be fair does need painting over.
- Trevor Roll, London
What Molly says is completely corret. The original artwork disappeared quite a while ago.
- Clare, UK
For once, TFL are not to blame!
The Pulp Fiction piece was covered up and defaced by a poor quality piece of work that said "F... Al Qaeda" which was put up after the London Bombings.
This totally obliterated the Banksy piece. In turn the Al Qaeda piece was subsequently re-defaced.
For once TFL were not to blame; the mess on the wall that was left had no merit.
Graffiti is MEANT to be ephemeral. Pieces come and go.
- Molly Zero, London
I lived in London for years and am a great admirer of Banksy's work. It is amazing that great sculputes and art in public spaces are often left alone by people who would damage them. But grafitti art is uncommissioned and often unsupported by local councils and community groups, so it is therefore deemed worthy of descruction and coverup! Transport For London could have protected that work and one day sold it for way more than it cost to clean up grafitti all over the Tube system.
Dopes.
Keep working Banksy.
- Nick, Sydney, Australia
Much as I agree with TFL's statement, graffiti is a scar on society.
However, Banksy is a true artist. His work makes me smile and he really captures the zetgeist in his ironic work.
I think we have lost something very, very special.
- Paul Jardine, Bromley
