Has Banksy struck in Bristol again?
As thousands of people flock to Bristol to see the contentious work of Banksy, the graffiti artist may have struck in the city once again.
A controversial piece of stencil art has appeared near Ashton Gate depicting Jesus, being crucified, wearing a Bristol City home shirt. To the bottom right of the image is the word "religion".
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A new stencil in Ashton Road depicts Jesus on the cross, wearing a Bristol City shirt
The graffiti was first noticed on Monday and is on a wall next to Bar BS3 on Ashton Road, which is very popular with City fans on match days.
Although there is no Banksy tag on the image, the landlord of the pub thinks there are several signs pointing to Bristol's notorious street artist, who did a piece called Christ With Shopping Bags a few years ago.
Banksy, who has a record-breaking exhibition at the City Museum and Gallery, is reported to be a Bristol City fan.
And some believe when his Mild Mild West mural in Stokes Croft and his work on Park Street were splattered with blue paint in June, rival Bristol Rovers fans may have been to blame.
Now, less than a week before Bristol City's first home game of the season against Crystal Palace, the image has appeared in the football club's heartland.
BS3 landlord and Robins' season ticket holder Rob Jones said: "It just appeared overnight. It does look like a Banksy and he's meant to be a City fan. He is known for creating with quite controversial messages and Jesus in a Bristol City shirt is certainly controversial. The timing is very interesting too, what with the first home game on Saturday. I quite like it and I would imagine come match day, when we'll have 1,000 fans in here, everyone will be talking about it."
The new graffiti has been painted on the Signmarket building next to the pub.
Signmarket's owner Paul Delaney, also a season ticket holder at Ashton Gate, says he has no intention of getting the mural removed.
"Too right I'm going to leave it up there," he said. "And it's true, football is like a religion to a lot of people."
Whether it is a genuine Banksy or not, die-hard Bristol City fans, especially those with a mischievous sense of humour, are unlikely to care.
36 Comments
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by chris, Bristol
Sunday, August 16 2009, 8:09PM
“Keith. Don't you realise that a crucifix (cross) is a type of scaffold?”
by AJ, Bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 9:37PM
“I think it could be one of BCFC's Scottish Internationals on the Cross just crucified 4-0 by Norway!”
by kieth, Bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 8:59PM
“8 ace - i dont really care”
by 8 Ace, Turbo Island
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 8:45PM
“Keith, you spelt your name wrong.”
by kieth, Bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 7:55PM
“@ chris - what does that have anything to do with it, were talking about a possible banksy piece of art and your worried about the word 'scaffold'? thats just the place whoever done this choose to do it!”
by john, bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 6:03PM
“*hand up*”
by 8 Ace, Turbo Island
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 5:50PM
“Put your hand up if you think its a Banksy”
by Banksy, Bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 5:17PM
“yes i am a city fan and yes that is my work”
by nick, bristol bs3
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 3:46PM
“id like to say it was a banksy piece in bs3 but i dont think it is. looks more like summat nick walker would do. simular style to that on the side of highbury vaults, cotham. good though.”
by jewels, Bemmers
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 2:42PM
“Possibly, possibly not. I agree that anything remotely stencil-ish gets immediately branded a Banksy, by the BEP at least. But I also laugh at the folks who go 'Nope, categorically NOT' like they actually know, chuckle chuckle. Might be worth heading to the flickr group 'Banksy' as I'm sure they will be able to give an unequivocal answer ... more chuckles :) Either way, it does brighten up a dull bit of wall in a dull bit of town.”