Banksy is the well-known pseudonym of one of the most famous artists of the 21st century which rose to fame thanks to a series of graffiti that appeared on buildings throughout Europe, generally marked by its critical and satirical themes of current society. There has been much speculation over the years about who the infamous street performer might be.
Numerous theories have appeared over the years about the identity of Banksy, some more credible than others. The founder of Massive Attack, Robert del Naja, also known by his pseudonym 3D, is also a graffiti artist and has been one of the most popular candidates. Other hypotheses included Jamie Hewlett, co-founder of the group Gorillaz and Neil Buchananpresenter of several children’s art programs on British television.
The Street Art reference has always chosen to keep his identity anonymous, a way of allowing himself to continue with his art without the limitations of fame, which also served to protect him from police persecution. However, in a BBC interview from two decades ago, the famous graffiti artist from Bristol board He had revealed his real name and it was broadcast in a recent podcast by the journalist who interviewed him.
The report was made for the first time in a special episode of the program BBC Radio 4 The Banksy Story. The famous artist spoke with Nigel Wrenchformer BBC art expert, at the opening of the exhibition Banksy’s Turf War in 2003 in east London.
On the radio show, Wrench asked if he could use Banksy’s real name in the interview, claiming that The Independent newspaper had used it in the past, and asked the artist to confirm if his name was Robert Banks. “It’s Robbie.”clarified, in a temporary slip, Banksy. Many of his followers and experts believe that his full name is Robbie Banks.
In that same chapter that was later added to the recent podcast, Wrench also tells what it was like to cover the opening of the exhibition of who was then an emerging artist. The journalist describes the gallery as an abandoned place, where the walls were not even painted white. Also, he remembers that Banksy was very relaxed, but he doesn’t remember what he was like physically, because he had a hoodie.
Banksy’s career rose to fame through a series of graffiti that appeared on buildings in Bristol. In 2018, she shocked the art world when her painting Girl with a Balloon “self-destructed” in London, immediately after being sold at auction for $25.38 million, the highest amount ever paid for a piece of hers. .
“If the enigma is solved, the artist’s tantalizing elusiveness and sense of unpredictability are symbolically destroyed. It could be anyone, and maybe that’s what it’s about. Anonymity and mystery are two of the most vital parts of the Banksy brand, and discovering his identity would also mean taking away from the artist (or artists) his main form of expression,” the specialist concluded. David Mouriquand to the Euronews agency portal.
by RN
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