Video: Inside Banksy's new Bristol exhibition
From the moment you enter the lobby of Bristol’s City Museum and Art Gallery, you know that Banksy has arrived.
The entrance hall has been taken over by the “portaloo” toilets, stacked like Stonehenge, which became iconic symbols of the Glastonbury festival a couple of years ago.
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Inside Banksy's Bristol show
But as you enter further into the building you realise that the exhibition, entitled Banksy Versus Bristol Museum, has taken over the entire building.
With 100 works - 78 of which have never before been seen in the UK - this is Banksy’s biggest ever British exhibition.
The anonymous Bristol-born artist’s new works blend cleverly into the existing collection - a Guantanamo escapee can be seen clinging on to the biplane that has flown over the main hall of the museum for years.
Upstairs the galleries have become an interesting game - spot the Banksy, as he has hidden away new works amongst the old.
Often they appear to fit in well with the room - among the religious iconography, for example, he has placed an oil of the Madonna and Child, which may seem conventional at first glance, until you notice that the Holy Mother is listening to her iPod.
The theme for blending the traditional with the Banksy begins in the main hall, where classical statues line the walls - familiar images that have been subverted by the artist.
Michelangelo’s David is now wearing a suicide bomber’s jacket, and the Venus di Milo now appears as an amputee beggar.
Rebecca Burton, deputy head of collections and archives for the museum, said: “The way he has blended his work into our collection is incredibly exciting.”
The show runs at Bristol’s City Museum and Art Gallery until August 31, 10am to 5pm daily. Admission is free.
10 Comments
by dorr, portsmouth,bristol
Monday, September 07 2009, 6:40PM
“i'm banksy and so is my wife !!!!”
by Gutted, High Wycombe
Sunday, August 16 2009, 7:00PM
“I would have loved to see the exhibition, however was turned away at 12:00 on Saturday saying there was a 5 hour queue which had now closed. What a waste of a 2 hour drive. There should reall be some kind of ticketing to avoid so many peoples' wasted trips.”
by paul, bristol
Wednesday, July 29 2009, 11:09PM
“Im fed up with banksy it does my head in. No aston court as well because of greed why did Bristol try for capital of culture. What culture? slavery and tobacco. Even brunel wasnt born here he was from Portsmouth this city was just about getting ok in the 90s but now its a souless dump”
by "Banksy's" cellmate, On day release
Sunday, June 14 2009, 7:41PM
“Contrary to what most people think - "Banksy" ain't no middle-class dilettante - he's a proper geezer/a top boy/one of the chaps.
The real reason he got his nickname come about because his first name's Robin. Strange you might think?
But not so odd when you know that when I first met him, he was serving a 15-stretch for some work he'd been doing at TSBs, NatWests, and other financial establishments dotted across our good country. So...as yer might imagine, it di'nt take too long before the lad were known as Robin Banks...then Banksy,,,and the rest is history,
Anyway, good luck to yer Banksy-lad, and make sure they don't get no pictures of yer. I'd hate to see yer back sculpting mailbags,”
by I am banksy, Bristle
Sunday, June 14 2009, 6:54PM
“That is all.”
by I am not banksy, Bristle
Sunday, June 14 2009, 6:47PM
“not banksy with your comment: it's a bit like the mirrors in shop changing rooms, that allow you to look forever and ever and ever and never...unless of course you really are not banksy...in which case it's a bit like one of those mirrors in shop changing rooms, that allow you to....”
by Babs, Westbury on Trym
Saturday, June 13 2009, 7:36PM
“Am absolutely thrilled that Banksy has come back to Bristol to show his art at such a prestigeous building, just goes to show what loyalty he has to this wonderful city. I feel very proud of him and really appreciate this gesture to his city. Well done Banksy, you mean so much to us in the current depressing climate. Regards, Babs”
by hanaboo, bristol
Saturday, June 13 2009, 12:11AM
“that would be nice, a new banksy in bristol, i'm gonna go see the exhibition sounds interesting, i was at the museum two weeks ago, gonna go see wats changed :)”
by ian, horfield
Friday, June 12 2009, 3:32PM
“so hes in town, keep your eyes peeled people, expect a banksy to turn up somewhere in the city over the next week , ill put 20 pence on it”
by not banksy, LONDON
Friday, June 12 2009, 2:38PM
“I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT A BANKSY BUT IT'S TOO MAINSTREAM”