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Banksy and a tunnel vision
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent2 May 2008
If anyone has ever wondered whether the graffiti art at the end of their street is a genuine masterpiece by the king of street art Banksy, this weekend is the time to check.
Banksy has crept into a giant tunnel by the now defunct Eurostar terminal at Waterloo and transformed it - with the help of more than 40 like-minded artists from Brazil to Norway.
In case there is any doubt, his contributions include one of his distinctive monkeys, a Buddha in a neck brace, a hoodie with a knife wound and several installations. A red car stands on end precariously. A Wendy house with children's slide is daubed with paint under the title Children's Area.
As always, Banksy was nowhere to be seen by the time the first outsiders were invited to see the work in progress. It might prove impossible to find anyone at all if, as organisers fear, 75,000 fans attempt to cram into the tunnel when it opens to the public at 10am tomorrow. That's how many people stormed a similar show in the States.
In the absence of face-to-face interviews, the artist who fiercely protects his identity issued a statement explaining the importance of work critics dismiss as vandalism. "Graffiti doesn't always spoil buildings, in fact it's the only way to improve a lot of them," he said.
"In a few hours with a couple of hundred cans of paint, I'm hoping we can transform a dark, dirty, neglected hell hole into an oasis of beautiful art."
Banksy thought of the festival after noticing the abandoned access road at Leake Street, off York Road. "I've always felt anyone with a paint can should have as much say in how our cities look as architects and ad men. So getting to cover an entire street with graffiti is a dream come true, or as some people might call it - a complete and utter nightmare," he said.
Tristan Manco - a curator who wrote a volume on stencil art for publishers Thames and Hudson - tracked down the artists and invited them.
Picturesonwalls, an East End business which produces prints of Banksy and American artist collective Faile, is sponsoring the festival. All invited artists have had their expenses paid.
Léon, 40, from London, part of the C6 collective founded a decade ago, said: "It's a great show, lots of different styles," he said. "This is a different genre from your train-hopping, name-writing people, but they're from the same family."
Tom Civil, 29, from Melbourne, Australia, said his invitation was "vague and mysterious". He said he loved Banksy's work.
"It's very cheeky, political, accessible, with a really good social message." The Cans Festival runs until 10pm on Monday.
Reader views (2)
Seriously the best thing I've ever heard said about living in a town. Not just the architects and ad men get a say in how it looks.We've become a nation that all follow the same route,an educational,financial or legalised endorsed one and that stifles new creativity. Banksy said the wisest thing there,well done Banksy,thanks for showing the other side of the city!
- Jackie, york,england, 15/05/2008 10:26
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I do like very much the idea...!
While thinking of so many guys/teenagers who like very much to express themselves by doing these WORKS/MURALS why doesn't London give them a space/area exclusively? This could avoid guys ending up going in bad areas deadly train stations etc in other words I would prefer to support these guys give the space that they want to express their sense of art,whatever they feel. I myself I do approve of this kind of art, I do not blame them...because they NEED to express themselves in that WAY & for them it doesn't matter WHERE!
- Teresa Seccia, London UK, 04/05/2008 12:06
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