Banksy vs. Bristol Museum written 8 months ago

A blisteringly hot Saturday afternoon in Bristol, and there’s a 30 minute queue to get into a Museum. Madness, surely? Why are the masses not treasuring the few precious moments of sun that grace our island, and are instead choosing to spend their afternoon in a stuffy museum looking at 100 year old art, and stuffed animals in cases?

The answer is that the museum has been taken over by the Bristol hailing Graffiti artist Banksy. In an curious move it seems that the Bristol museum has allowed this artist to run his (paint stained..) fingers over their collection of traditional art and biological displays. No corner of the museum was out of reach to our en-hoodied prankster as hundred year old paintings are defaced, and stuffed animals in cases brought to life.

After waiting in the squelching heat for 30 minutes, munching our recently bought Sainsbury’s punnet of grapes, we were herded in to enjoy the works of our stencil toting subject. A glimpse of our heroes workspace greets us, along with a selection of new art (which, even though bizarrely cameras were allowed in, I won’t reproduce). Pottering further inside reveals assorted caged animals (as illustrated above) all suggesting various statements against something-or-other…

Much of Mr B’s work depicts some kinda statement about something, be it poor treatment of animals (or people) or mockery of our MPs. This lead me on to wonder about how how much of the young scallywags work we might have seen had his work not been aimed squarely at making a political point. Not that this is a criticism - much of the work I see in “modern” art museums have placards next to them informing me that this collection of scribbles is the artists protests against the Spanish Civil war or some such travesty of the moment. At least you don’t need a cheat-card to work out what message our spray-can toting youth is trying to convey.

In summary, it’s a very well executed exhibition, and a collection of genuine pieces of art that show exceptional talent and wit. I’m glad I took the trouble to visit.

P.S. Whilst we were there we ate at a cool Moroccan cafe in the St Nicholas Market. Well recommended to have a wander around there and sample some of the different cuisines on offer if you do visit.

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