Elusive graffiti artist Banksy, who made his name tagging walls and bridges, took his work indoors as he unveiled his biggest-ever exhibition in his hometown's museum of Bristol, England.
His work is hidden among the museum's usual exhibits and is split into different rooms, including installations, paintings and sculptures. 100 pieces, including over 70 new works were installed only after swearing museum staff to secrecy over the project. Outlandish pieces fill the museum's three floors, including a burned out ice-cream van with a giant dripping cone and portable toilets stacked to look like Stonehenge.
Banksy, who refuses to reveal his real name, began his career in Bristol spray-painting local buildings. "This is the first show I've done where taxpayers' money is being used to hang my pictures up rather than scrape them off," he said in a statement.
His art started with spray paint and cardboard stencils to tag walls, bridges and street signs as a way of social commentary. Often mislabled as just a punk kid nuisance, Banksy uses the graffiti as way to convey a message about society. He takes his work to the streets where those who live it, can see it.
Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans
West Bank Barrier, Bethlehem
Other notable works include an image of a spear-toting ancient human pushing a shopping cart, displayed in the British Museum in 2005. The next year he smuggled a life-sized figure of a Guantanamo Bay detainee into Disneyland.
His works are found throughout his native Bristol — on exterior walls and bridges. However, he has not held an exhibition indoors there since 2000. Banksy told the Bristol Evening Post newspaper he put the show together because he wanted to give something back to his town. "I could have taken the show to a lot of places, but they do have a very nice cup of tea in the museum," he said in a statement given to the newspaper.
"Equally there's so many people in Bristol who just love Banksy, and internationally. He's a megastar.
Exactly WHO Banksy is remains shrouded in mystery - we do know he grew up in Bristol, and this free exhibition is said to be his way of thanking and rewarding the city.
