By Elizabeth Puranam
Banksy is often called the most talked about artist in the world. He is certainly the most elusive – his identity has never been revealed.
The British artist's exhibitions are highly anticipated affairs, and Nelson is playing host to a comprehensive collection of the cult hero's works.
Oi You! is a fitting name for an exhibition featuring the works of the attention and headline grabbing Banksy.
There is no mistaking a Banksy even if, after a decade of his stencils gracing public spaces, no one actually knows who he is.
Banksy collector George Shaw says he does not accept that everyone refers to Banksy as a “bloke”.
“I presume that he's a bloke but I’ve never knowingly met him.”
Mr Shaw started buying Banksy works eight years ago, paying as little as $150 for limited edition prints.
For Mr Shaw the street art movement evoked the rebellion and passion of the seventies punk scene in London.
“It was a little bit like the first time I heard the guns of Brixton by The Clash, so yeah, I wanted to go out there and find some of his work and own and it just snowballed from there.”
Mr Shaw's collection is now worth millions.
“Now if Banksy releases a print, there's 50,000 people trying to buy each one of the 500 prints in an edition.”
As well as owning Banksy's works, Mr Shaw's attended some of his most talked about shows, such as Los Angeles in 2006, where ‘Brangelina’ spent half a million dollars on one work.
“I think we were the first people through the door. We even ended up helping the crew there, having a few of the last pieces.”
In 2007, Mr Shaw followed Banksy to Palestine where the man from Bristol, whose art is often his activism, created some of his most famous work.
“This has only ever been seen, to my knowledge, in public at the show in Palestine, which is where we were able to get it from.”
Twenty-three Banksy works are now on display at the Oi You! exhibition.
As for whether Banksy himself will make an appearance – who would know?
3 News
source: newshub archive
