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Is this Banksy at work?
Richard Chambers, Evening Standard31.10.07
This picture is believed to be the first showing Banksy at work.
The maverick street artist has kept the public guessing over his identity despite his creations now selling for six- figure sums to Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
Several photographs of the Bristol-born artist - real name thought to be Robert Banks - have emerged in recent years claiming to unmask him. But the latest appears to have caught Banksy creating one of his trademark murals on the side of a building in Bethnal Green.
A passer-by took several pictures on a camera phone at Pollard Street near the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club. They show Banksy with an assistant using scaffolding and a truck. The finished work depicts a disgruntled street worker resting after painting a double-yellow line which turns into a flower.
A recent auction of 10 pieces of Banksy art sold for more than £500,000 at Bonhams.
With his anti-capitalist and anarchist images of giant rats and other animals, the artist has cultivated his anonymity to allow him to pull off a series of stunts, including releasing an inflatable Guantanamo prisoner doll at Disneyland last year.
The latest work may have been a riposte to Tower Hamlets council, which has vowed to erase all of Banksy's work. A spokesman for the artist confirmed the artwork is genuine but refused to confirm whether the man in the photograph is him.
"We never confirm or deny whether an image shows Banksy," said the spokesman. Shortly before the Bonhams' auction Tower Hamlets councillor Abdal Ullah said: "Graffiti is a crime. It spoils the environment, makes our neighbourhoods feel less safe, and costs thousands of pounds each year to clean - money that could instead be paying for local services."
Hackney council, which has a high concentration of Banksy's work, has taken a similar stance and already cleaned some away.
"We can't make a decision as to whether something is art or graffiti. The Government judges us on the number of clean walls we have," said a Hackney council spokesman.
When one of Banksy's artworks - stencilled on a wall in Bristol - came under threat, a public vote showed that 97 per cent wanted it to be kept.
Reader views (9)
Why print his face? I dont really want to know what he looks like. It's part of his art to keep unknown to the public. To be honest i dont think this is him, and i dont think any of the photos i have seen of him are actually him because he would be a little more careful if he wanted to stay anonymous.
- Callum, Hereford, UK
Banksy is no criminal and the stuff he dose is not vandalism it is art. He takes pride in his work it not just a quick scribble with a spay can. His work should not be taken away, it should be kept to admire
- Suvvy, London England
The fact that someone may have captured his face on camera saddens me. The public should keep cameras in their pockets till the work is done and take pics of the art not the artist. Where will Banksy be without his anonymity.
Banksy is undoubtedly one of the most connotative artists for many a year. Had Picasso, Renoir or Constable used a wall instead of a canvas would their work have been worth nothing and deemed unsightly.
- C Langan, Leicester, Leicestershire
In our current culture of litigation, health and safety and above all political correctness, is it surprising that a creative talent that shouts out that the world is our oyster, that we are free to express ourselves outside the box, is frightening and threatens our safe little boxed existences. The powers that be, cannot condone creative freedom that challenges our regulated existence otherwise their power might crumbled around them and then what would happen?
- Niki, Bath
Banksy is a genius. I don't understand how people can question whether it's art or graffiti. I'm sorry to be stereotypical, but I call graffiti a swirl of distasteful colours, put there by young teenage yobs, spelling the rudest 4 letter word they can find in 5ft tall writing, or spelling ''I waz 'ere '08'' etc.
You have to admit, his work is impressive. Whether you like it or not, people are amazed by his work. I personally, am an art student, and his designs are alot more complicated and advanced than the majority think.
His work is sold for thousands, he has websites, books, everything. 'Graffiti' is not worth that much. Real art is. It gives Bristol such character. I love it.
- E.Carpenter, Dorset
Hackney council, Tower Hamlets council. Sort out your priorities. Banksy is an undisputed genius, 97% of the public can see that so why can't you?
- Dave, North Yorkshire, England
Come to Bristol and see some of his art. This latest work is not offensive Hackney Council, so why waste money cleaning it off? We should all be grateful that someone is trying to cheer the place up a bit.
- Julie, Bristol, England
I live in Bethnal Green and was stopped on Brick Lane a couple of weeks ago by some researchers asking questions about street art on behalf of Tower Hamlets council. They showed me several photographs of 'graffiti' and asked if I found it offensive and if I thought it should be removed. I told them I loved the art and don't want it removed at all, and the researchers told me that most people were saying that.
The majority of what the council want to erase is beautiful and has great artistic merit. It gives what could be a very grim looking part of London real character. Why don't the councils spend money supporting local artists? Banksy is now a well-known and well-respected artist. His work, and the work of the others in Tower Hamlets and Hackney is something to be celebrated, not erased. It could be good for the area and local businesses if the council could only understand that art does not always have to be on canvas hanging in some 'posh' gallery. These days, the real art is on the streets.
- Kirsty W., Bethnal Green
I'd go to Hackney to see some of Banksy's work. I'd probably have some lunch, maybe a drink there too. Spend some money, like. Do you know what that is, Hackney Council? It's tourism! Duh.
- Sarah, Dublin, Ireland
