HootinNHollerinBanksy could be unmasked as police probe 'criminal damage' over Royal Courts of Justice artwork
It means Banksy, who has remained anonymous for more than 25 years, could finally be unmasked as he would be required to publicly disclose his name if brought to court.
Gonna be hard to bring them to court if you don’t even know their name, isn’t it?
NOT_RICKWith the London surveillance apparatus, I bet they could figure out who Banksy is. It’d be an insane waste of time and resources, but I bet they could.
KoboldCoterieThe fact that they’re going to all this trouble over this image proves the point the image was making better than anything else possibly could have.
JoeKroganExactly and the image is already out on the internet now.
Before and after they tried to remove it only to further bolster the message
Track_ShovelHonestly, they inadvertently made it better, and certainly made it more poignant
but, BUT, MUH LAW AND ORDER
oce 🐆Does he still install them himself? Isn’t it likely he sent someone to do it for him?
They have done both.
Couldn’t tell ya, but that’s certainly plausible.
FubarberryI’ve long heard that his identity is an open secret and a lot of people know his actual identity. Solid chance the UK government already knows who he is.
huppakeeThem silently knowing his identity is not the same as them proving his identity in court though.
WildmimicRumors (which are even on Wikipedia) say it's Robert Del Naja from Massive Attack, who started as a graffiti artist. Bansky told interviewers that he was inspired by Del Naja.
If I was trying to keep my identity a secret, I wouldn’t say I was inspired by myself.
And not even in reverse-psychology way, because then the interviewer would probably look up Del Naja and an immediately make the connection.
Imagine if it isn’t Del Naja, yet everytime he travels somewhere someone puts up a Banksy near you. I’d feel so powerful and in control of that happened to me all the time.
SoftestSapphicNothing will meaningfully improve until the rich fear for their lives
Yup. It’s a one way trip to fascist dystopia until the oligarchs feel they might genuinely face the old French treatment.
Gradually_AdjustingSome prophecies are self fulfilling. Stalin’s paranoia didn’t kill him maybe, but it didn’t exactly save him.
CubitOom
AkasazhTbf it would be pretty cool if he uploaded the templates for the artwork online, together with a how to, that way the piece could be put on walls by anyone.
The article says it could result in a fine that’s based on the value of the damage. You’d think having a famous artist’s work would increase the value of the building.
would be funny if courts did agree it was net increase to value if they didnt destroy it
Even funnier would be if they then put the cleaners in jail instead.
jabjoeInteresting. “The value of the damage.” I’d say it’s pretty likely the Banksy worked increased the value of the wall, if not the whole property. So is that negative damage? The people who decreased the value where those who tried to clean off the artwork.
Ah yes, going after world renowned artist for graffiti because he made them feel bad. Truth speaking to power will always be unpopular with those in power.
I mean tbh they go after all the world renowned graffiti artists, as by nature graffiti is illegal. There are plenty muralists that aren’t sought after by the authorities because they only paint legal (…under that name anyway…) but by definition graffiti is a crime.
He’s not because people not into graff know him so if he writes on your building it’s worth money, yaaay. Even though those who know graff know him as a biter, for his copying of Blek Le Rat.
I mean tbh they go after all the world renowned graffiti artists
If it were some random dude writing some random letters, they probably would put in a lot of effort though; because the effort isn’t because of material damage.
Yeah, JA XTC, MQ, Kez 5 (dead), Semz, Zexor (dead), Risk, Cost & Revs, Kuma, Wanto, Pixote, Earsnot, Seen, etc on and on, all those dudes are still or were* (*either caught and now paint that name legally or died) being actively hunted by the cops specifically because of the material damage. I wouldn’t know from experience or anything I’ve never written on anything and you have no proof to the contrary.
Banksy isn’t sought for criminal charges, he’s sought because he’s “famous.” I’m sure he would face charges because he is at least doing his street art illegally, but it’s absolutely not the same treatment someone like Jase or Ich would get bombing reefers, much less someone like MQ.
In conclusion, Team Robbo FTW fuck that biter.
Thanks. Seeing this collection of names in a post on lemmy dropped my jaw. All city.
Hell yeah lol, stay up!
No it’s not entirely true some graffiti are even protected after being recognised as art.
Right, for people as famous as Banksy and nobody else, that’s partly what I’m talking about. Sure legal murals get protected all the time but writers/bombers (like King Robbo who banksy dissed,) and even most “street artists” who don’t write, (like Blek Le Rat, who Banksy bit) get chased by the cops (or train yard bulls), it’s the name of the game, and frankly it wouldn’t be as fun without it.
So they destroyed a priceless artwork, and are essentially planning to kill graffiti Santa next.
I wonder who’s ordering this, and if they’re aware it will not help the public opinion problem they’re having.
I’m pretty sure they no longer care about public opinion, they’re confident there’s nothing we can (or will) do.
That is the vibe the UK government gives in particular sometimes. There’s been a few issues over the past decade and a bit where they just haven’t given a fuck about privacy, free speech or recourse against the authorities.
It’s mistake to think that way, though, because the nation actually is a democracy now.
ikiddThey’re determined to Streisand Effect this into the history books, huh?
I’m pretty sure they already unmasked Banksy
This is Banksy. That kid is much too young cmon
Regrettable_incidentFuck me that guy looks just like me.
I never met him myself, but I know a few people who have done way back. Site crew in Bristol mostly. Rip useless Paul who had one of his rats on the side of his trailer.
Well I’m a fan. His social commentary is on point and much needed. I hope his erased mural gets repainted somewhere else nearby
I reckon any street artist understands that their work is temporary. It probably got more publicity by being removed. Streisand effect at work again.
UK, what the bloody hell is wrong with you.
Our current government is the labour party, the one of the big two that is supposed to be more left leaning. They haven’t been left leaning in twenty years, they crept to centrist and now the creep to the right continues. They’re not dissimilar from the democrats in America. Internationally, there seems to be a general move towards the right and we are certainly following it. Demonstrations and activism don’t seem to help. Shit is fucked, basically.
The UK government as effectively ignored all protests since the poll tax riots. The choice seems either start acting like the French or just sit down and shut up.
Yeah, and I’ve been on some actions that have kicked off, back in the day, fighting the lines of riot police. It was fun but achieved fuck all. Yeah we need many more people involved in aggressive protests. I don’t know if that will help either, but at least we need to mobilise a broader section of the population.