Sunday 30 August 2009

More Banksy


Some of you will know that I queued up to see Banksy in the Bristol Museum for 45 minutes at the beginning of the summer. At the time I thought I was completely mad standing in a queue for that length of time. My first post about Banksy is here. You can see the different art that I photographed on that visit.

However by mid summer my daughter and grandsons were staying with me and I was asked if I would like to go again with them. By now, word had got round that the exhibition was outstanding and people were flocking to see it from all over Britain.
This visit we waited three hours to get in. The grandson's were very good and occupied themselves playing *I Spy* and watching the queue snake gently up and down the surrounding roads. I was astounded that they waited all that time and that they really enjoyed the visit to the museum once we all got in.



For those of you who wonder who this guy is you can go here and look this mysterious grafitti artist up.



Banksy does make a statement about life. Political things in particular and makes us aware of the suffering in the world and the pollution and mess that mankind has made.



We were not allowed to use flash so these pictures are not the best quality.



I like the way that he gets things to come out of the picture like the photos above. He is always out to shock people.

My son had taken the granddaughters to Japan for a whole month over the summer holiday and he was really looking forward to going to the Banksy exhibition when he came back. He reckoned there would be still one week left to see his work before the museum went back to normal and he thought the girls would like to see it.
However by then, the queues had jumped to a six hour wait to get in and people were not only coming from different parts of Britain but from countries overseas as well. Sam decided that it was too long to wait and he will have to make do with my photos!

So who IS this man Banksy? No one seems to know. He is very elusive and only a handful of people know him and they are all sworn to secrecy. No one knows how old he is or what he looks like. However he has made a big statement over here and I guess people either love him or hate him. No one seems to be undecided.








35 comments:

Reasons said...

Maggie May thanks so much for posting these pictures. I am a fan of Banksy and had heard about the exhibition. There aren't many things worth queueing for three hours for, but this surely was!

Valerie said...

Maggie, I've never seen anything like these pictures before. They're incredible. I love the one with the rowing boat coming out of the picture. Wow! Going to look up this genius forthwith. Thanks for sharing.

Irene said...

I guess you were lucky that you only had to stand in line for 45 minutes the first time and it was really good of your grandsons to stand in line for 3 hours. That is unheard of for kids. I don't know what to think of the artist. I suppose it would be fun to see the exhibit, but I don't think I would want to stand in line for it that long. He is renewing and surprising, but I don't know if I'd call him revolutionary or barrier breaking. Does it matter? I guess not. I'd stand in line for 30 minutes, tops.

Irene said...

I should add that I'd not stand in line for anyone more than 30 minutes.

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for these, Maggie. A dear friend recently gave me a book of Banksy's work authored by Banksy himself. He is a real character, the heart of what well-executed graffiti is all about.

Must have been exciting!

Anonymous said...

I am definitely in the 'love him' camp. I think it is amazing that someone so talented remains anonymous too - Very humbling.

VioletSky said...

I cannot imagine standing in such a long line. But I am so glad you did and shared these pictures. It's too bad the exhibit couldn't have been extended since it seems so popular.

Rosaria Williams said...

A secret man with a penchant for surprises and revelations. Fun post.

I didn't know about Banksy. I shall keep looking for his work from now on.

larkswing said...

I love these paintings! So glad you shared them with us.

Marian Dean said...

Thanks for bringing these to my attention Maggie, very unusual pictures, incredibly imaginative artist.
Thanks for a very interesting post.
Love Granny

Suburbia said...

Maggie, I have been twice, the first Saturday I queued only half and hour, and a few weeks later an hour. This Saturday I went to look at the queue and it was a 6 hour wait as you say! Unbelievable really. As you can imagine, I didn't join the queue. It was a good show though wasn't it? And I would have loved to have seen it just once more.

Joanna Jenkins said...

What a fun post! The pics are great. After such a long wait at least it wasn't too crowded to take pictures :-)
xo

Ghost Dansing said...

i think i would like this exhibition.... Banksy

Brian Miller said...

ooch! i think the last is my favorite...thoughthe ricksahw is pretty funny as well...marvelous work and a treat to see in person i am sure. hope you had a great weekend.

Jeni said...

Well, I think I would have to draw the line at even a three-hour wait as I doubt my legs and back would be very friendly with me after that. But boy, his art is awesome. And, with no flash, you still did quite well with your photos too!

Anonymous said...

I love him, and thanks for these, my hip would not stand up to any waiting.

Rose said...

I was going to say I wouldn't wait in line for three hours for a museum exhibit, but seeing these photos, I might! I don't know which one I like the best, but the little waif pulling a rickshaw certainly makes you think...and the field worker taking a cigarette break makes me laugh. I can see why this exhibit has drawn such crowds.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Dearest Maggie,
Thank you so much for stopping by even while I am on my blogging break!! You are so very thoughtful and kind! I miss you and all my friends! And so I plan to return to my little place very soon...sometime in the next several weeks...I have a few things to clear from my plate, but then you'll hear from me more often again. I love this artist!! I am particularly taken with the painting with the woman removed from working in the fields, and now sitting and smoking on the frame! Wow! That's really powerful!!! No wonder people are flocking to see this exhibition! Thanks so much for being our eyes and ears!! These shots are terrific! Love to you and yours~Janine XO

Sandi McBride said...

Thanks so much for sharing these Maggie...they're wonderful! For you to wait in line so long, well, all I can say is...what a champ!
Sandi

Akelamalu said...

I've not heard of Banksy but I like what I see in your pictures! Thanks for posting about this, I'll look out for him maybe coming to Manchester. :)

Anonymous said...

Maggie, I have never seen that artists work. Fascinating!

Craver Vii said...

Okay, okay. I'm Banksy. (kidding)

Phenomenal images! And you presented them well. That's an incredible talent; thanks for sharing.

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

This is a great collection. I had never heard of the artist, but I love the work. I, too, enjoyed the woman smoking. Too cool!!

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful paintings. They look so real. Amazing.

Helena said...

I was a Banksy virgin until I read this blog - and I have to say, I'm impressed. I love the elusiveness of his identity - that's appealing in itself. But hey - there's a few shelters in town that could really use this kind of graffiti artist - I'd deliberately miss the bus!

♥ Braja said...

love those....so clever...

Daisy said...

I love these!! Thank you so much for sharing, it really was worth the queue - they're brilliant. I love the look of the museum itself as well, seems like they have some lovely things even without the graffiti.

San said...

Maggie, I remember that earlier Banksy post and am delighted to see more. Very provocative. I would love to see the work in person.

Anonymous said...

OK...I should have been here lonnng before now! This is stunning...absolutely stunning!
I can't believe my eyes....I know, I know..I'm going on and on...so, I'll hush (so unlike me)...but I wanted you to know that these are incredible photos of wonderful works of art!!! I can't pick a favorite...!! I will be back tonight to absorb more....
Smiles,
Jackie

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

I declare myself a Banksy lover Maggie. I loved your photographs too.

Ladybird World Mother said...

Isn't he amazing... one of my favourites.

Unknown said...

What an amazing exhibit! I love it. Very cool. I am going to look him up! Thank you for introducing me to this : )

Wendy said...

What a unique and gifted artist! I am glad you were able to take some pics, flash or not, they are just fine. Otherwise, many of us would not know who Banksy is.

I like his work. Will check out more on-line (if available, you say he is a recluse).

Your grandkids were really good to have waited 3 hours in line!!

Thanks so much for sharing.

Anonymous said...

These pictures are amazing. Banksy could always be a woman!!

CJ xx

Eddie Bluelights said...

Super post Maggie. I knew about Bansky for a long time, seeing his grafitti but not realising his true genius.
No wonder he is so popular - he is definitely a genius ~ Eddie