Tag Archives: Mantis

panoramic view of traffic STOP sign subverted by Banksy in Peckham

Its A Sign Banksy

Banksy is in the news again, who’d have thought?  For the benefit of anyone dwelling beneath something hard and rock like, an image of three drone missiles appeared on a STOP sign at a road junction in Peckham, South London, acknowledged as a genuine Banksy on Banksy’s instagram.  What made this Banksy particularly newsworthy was the blatant broad daylight removal of the street sign by two thieves which was captured on hi-definition video footage and rapidly circulated on social media.

panoramic view of traffic STOP sign subverted by Banksy in Peckham

Stop War, Banksy, Peckham, 23rd Dec 2023

The artwork is an anti-war message, Banksy’s name for the image is “Stop War”.  There is little doubt in the light of Banksy’s past work in support of Palestine that the reference is to the current war in Gaza.

Among the more ludicrous theories spouted on the internet was the idea that this theft was some kind of Banksy stunt.   Team Banksy is renown for professionalism and secrecy, it’s hard to imagine Banksy engaging a thief who didn’t have the nous to cover their face when committing a crime in front of the cameras.  Also, Banksy would surely have had to give any accomplice an indemnity for potential consequences including arrest and he isn’t that stupid.

close up view of traffic STOP sign subverted by Banksy in Peckham

Stop War, Banksy, Peckham, 23rd Dec 2023

The artwork’s message is delivered through a subversion of an existing road sign, this is a rather unusual niche in Banksy’s street art.

google street view showing Stop sign before Banksy subverted it

Existing STOP sign, June 2022, photo courtesy Google Maps

Banksy’s books, website and Instagram account are the only public sources for verifying something as a genuine Banksy and these reveal just a few examples of modified street signs.  In his 2005 Wall and Piece book we find two photos of what appear to be subverted road signs though we’d need photos of the intact signs to be certain.   In 2009 there was an amended “No Stopping” sign in Whitechapel, London with a rat in a wheel, an image that appeared subsequently in New York and Croydon except the rat is now in a clock face rat race.

Red triangle traffic warning sign subverted by Banksy

Subverted traffic sign, Photo: Banksy, Wall and Piece

subverted Give Way traffic sign by Banksy showing cow hanging from Parachute

Banksy, Wall and Piece

No Stopping traffic sig with added rat in a wheel by Banksy

No stopping rat race, Banksy, Bell Lane 2009 – Photo Banksy, Cut and RUN 2023

In 2018 a genuine Banksy “OAP Crossing” sign appeared in Clevedon, Somerset.  The sign needed the context of an elderly population for full impact so as a dormitory town for retired old folk Clevedon was ideal but in the absence of a suitable existing sign Banksy made the sign from scratch and placed it on the lamppost.

Two traffic stop signs subverted by street artist Mantis to read Stop Consuming

STOP CONSUMING, Mantis, Shoreditch 2008

Identical drones have appeared a number of times in the Banksy cannon including as artwork in his currently closed Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem and as part of the Gross Domestic Product shop in 2019.

Banksy artwork with drones bombing a painting of a hillsdie by Banksy in the Gross Domestic Product display, Croydon, 2019

Duck and Cover, Banksy, Gross Domestic Product, Croydon 2019

The GDP drones were advertised for sale online by Banksy and the secret of the craftsmanship is revealed in the product description.  From photos they may look stencilled but the drones are actually painted resin glued to the signs.  This gives rise to the excellent drop shadow effect and the relief structure can be seen in this photo.

product label for Banksy artwork Duck and Cover

Duck and Cover product label, Banksy, Gross Domestic Product, Croydon 2019

For about 12 hours the police position on the Peckham stop sign was they weren’t taking any action as no loss had been reported.  After a short idling period they did a U-turn to “Seeking information regarding an incident” which then gave way to “A man has been arrested”.  Miffed artists droned on about preferential treatment for Banksy and one full caps online comment screamed “SOUTHWARK APPARENTLY THINK ITS THEIRS. ITS NOT”, referring to the notion of street art being for everyone.    Well, actually it is theirs.  The thief was charged with criminal damage which is a property offence, nothing to do with it being art theft.  Street signs on local roads (sub motorway and A roads) are the council’s responsibility and Southwark could not give a flying one about the Banksy, it’s more likely that they can’t be seen to be blasé about such a high profile un-authorised street sign removal.

Other artists have augmented street signs for art and political purposes, without doubt the best known is the French artist Clet Abraham. Banksy isn’t the only artist whose subverted street signs get nicked.

subverted traffic no entry sign by Clet Abraham, Marylebone 2022

No entry David, Clet Abraham, Marylebone 2022

subverted pair of no entry traffic signs in Shoreditch, 2008

STOP CONSUMING, Mantis, Shoreditch 2008

subverted traffic no entry sign by Clet Abraham, Brick Lane 2022

Now you see Clet Abraham, Brick Lane 2022

replaced traffic No Entry sigh, Brick Lane

No sign of Clet, December 2023

This isn’t the first time I have put up a blog post on Christmas Day, in 2009 Robbo (RIP) delivered a brilliant ripost to Banksy, part of the memorable spat between the pair and blogged HERE.

Many thanks to Art Of The State whose thoughts and reminders greatly informed this post


Street Art Private Views Thursday 10 Oct

What’s going on – Second Thursday is the new First Thursday?  So much to do this Thursday on the street art private view circuit in London.

Street Art,private Views,JR,Lazarides,Far Rockaway,Mantis,Pure Evil,London,Gallery,party

Inside Out – JR

JR: ACTIONS.

11th Oct 2013 to 14th Nov 2013

Top of the pops in terms of international heavyweight street artists is this opening of prints and paste ups by JR, who has been causing a stir bringing his Inside Out photo booth to London and pasting photos all over various London landmarks.  Not sure but I am guessing RSVP definitely required.

Lazarides Rathbone Gallery

11 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1HR

 

Street Art,private Views,JR,Lazarides,Far Rockaway,Mantis,Pure Evil,London,Gallery,party

Free Your Mind,You Are Here – Mantis, 2009

Mantis: Epoch

Mantis is one of those great long standing but un-sung heroes of the London street art scene, you’ve probably been blown away by some piece of Mantis street art and just not realised it.  On Graffoto (the other blog I write for) I raved about Mantis’s art and installations in the Lord Napier show and I am hoping for more of something similar from the “enigmatic and elusive” Mantis.

Update – the tip is bring a few pound coins for a go on a special installation

Hoxton Gallery, 9 Kingsland Rd, E2 8AA

 

Street Art,private Views,JR,Lazarides,Far Rockaway,Mantis,Pure Evil,London,Gallery,party

Who shot…Jimmy C

Jimmy C – The Riot Series

Oct 11rd to 27th , 2013

This is Australian Jimmy C, impressive muralist and spraycan drippy pointalist and is not to be confused with Jimmy Cauty who does the Riot In A Jam Jar series (for those of you too young to remember The KLF, burning a million pounds etc).  Street Art shows at the Pure Evil Gallery have become a comparatively rare event and we will look forward to some impressive impressionism from Jimmy C.

Pure Evil Gallery

108 Leonard St, EC2A 4RH

 

 

Far Rockaway Grand Opening

Far Rockaway is destined to establish itself as Shoreditch’s latest extraordinary street art themed bar to be far too cool for me to hang out in (see also – just about every other Shoreditch establishment with a neon sign and no draught beer).  Far Rockaway’s distinguishing feature is the awesome quantity of street art from possibly the most eclectic group of street artists ever seen under one roof.  This will be more like a brilliant art opening than a cool bar opening.. expect crowds!  RSVP and name on a list is believed to be a requirement.

Far Rockaway

97-113 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3BS

Have fun and remember.. buying art is a bit like spotting a future wife…most likely to occur in the dark and under the influence.

All photos: NoLionsInEngland