Letters: Anger over Banksy in Bristol report

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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This is Bristol

I was shocked and disappointed at the front page of the Post on Friday, June 12, "Banksy: World Exclusive".

The write-up by David Clensy was both provocative and puerile.

He tells us that "the world's most famous living artist" is favouring us with an exhibition of his works at the Bristol City Museum and that our fair city of Bristol is about to be swamped by "hundreds of thousands of art lovers from all round the world".

No doubt they will be queuing for days, with chequebooks in hand, eager to buy his latest masterpiece, Ice cream cone dropped in a pile of dog mess.

Although the article says that none of the works in the Bristol exhibition will be for sale, I'm sure Banksy will not be able to resist the lucrative offers for prints of his Queen Victoria as a Lesbian.

Mr Clensy goes on to say that the surprise show will come as a shock to the city as only a few people knew of Banksy's plans.

Surely the real shock to the city is that the Post has given so much space and coverage to promote this person, who in my opinion is a pathetic graffiti artist who has become successful and famous not through his talent but through his notoriety.

In the absence of Banksy, who is still hiding in the closet, maybe Mr Clensy could explain to the loved ones of all the victims murdered by suicide bombers the deep artistic significance of Banksy's masterpiece showing Michelangelo's David wearing a suicide bomber's jacket.

There has always been controversy in the world of art and there always will be, but this is nothing to do with art. Defiling real works of art is the sort of thing mindless yobs do.

Before someone points out that Banksy has made a lot of money out of this, may I remind you that a very rich American businessman once said: "No one has ever lost money by overestimating the public's bad taste."

In this case, however, it's not the bad taste of the public as a whole but a small minority who are prepared to support anything that is crude, anti-social or anti-establishment.

Banksy has been allowed through the backdoor of our beautiful city museum to exhibit his tasteless yob culture.

Mr Kim Pomphrey, Yate.

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6 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by michelle, Bristol

    Thursday, June 25 2009, 4:00PM

    “Kim-you must be a really boring, stupid lady with nothing better to do then complain about the things that you're jealous of.
    That goes for the rest of you boring sods too who feel it appropriate to slate such great talent.

    Do any of you even understand the concept of art?
    Kim certainly does not! How about you actually take a moment to stop and look in full detail at his work. You may find hidden messages. Quite obvious really to those who aren't so ignorant.

    Think of how much money this brings to the city in terms of tourism. It is actually a small minority who don't get it. They are the mindless individuals who like society to be dull.

    Have a bit of fun for once in your life!”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Ruth, Shirehampton

    Tuesday, June 23 2009, 9:17PM

    “Have any of you complaining actually been to see this exhibition?!”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by steve, st george

    Thursday, June 18 2009, 7:08PM

    “bristol bird banksy mainly stencils, my 11 yr old could do that, he's a criminal and damages walls ithout permission.

    lock him up”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Bristol Bird, bristol

    Thursday, June 18 2009, 10:43AM

    “Well I for one disagree, Banksy has helped promote Bristol world wide, what with the likes of Angelina and Brad snapping up his artwork, I havnt been able to get to the Museum but a friend showed me some photos he took and I think his work is brilliant. As for Steve spouting about damage hes caused around its hardly graffiti is it! Its great artwork on a wall which people flock to see. I would put you and Kim in the minority, most people from Bristol are proud of Banksy!!!”

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    by steve, st george

    Wednesday, June 17 2009, 5:43PM

    “i agree with kim, this talentless vandal should be in jail for the amount of damage he's caused around bristol and made to pay to have it removed,talent and banksy dont go together.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by George, Bristol

    Wednesday, June 17 2009, 2:51PM

    “Mr Kim Pomphrey - A completely misguided fool.

    So many comments in this rant, too many to provide examples of. Misguided, out of date, pompous fool.”

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