Camden New Journal - News: Watch this space as Banksy passes Town Hall’s art test

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Camden New Journal - by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 8 November 2007

Bradford University art students Becky Croft, Megan Jones and William Wade

Watch this space as Banksy passes Town Hall’s art test

GRAFFITI artist Banksy has been invited by the Town Hall to brighten up Camden.
The invitation came after Tower Hamlets council threatened to blast his work from walls in its area.
But in Camden, Lib Dem leisure chief Councillor Flick Rea said the council would never dream of cleaning off a Banksy rat on the side of the Town Hall building in Judd Street.
The maverick artist’s work also includes a maid sweeping dust under the carpet in Chalk Farm Road.
Tory environment chief Councillor Mike Greene said: “There’s genuine art and Banksy is an example of that.
“I do have a worry that some graffiti could encourage other, shall we say, less talented individuals. It’s really a case of finding a balance between encouraging art the public can enjoy and having a free-for-all where every talentless rogue who decides he wants to can put his tag.”
He suggested introducing designated areas where artists can “go wild with a paint brush”, and added: “Why doesn’t the Camden New Journal invite people to tell us where they think needs brightening up?”
Cllr Rea supported art areas “as long as it’s interesting and done with some care and we can formalise it to some extent”. She added: “A lot of graffiti artists are quite good.”
Graffiti artist Mighty Mo, who has painted his distinctive monkey cartoons on shop shutters in Kentish Town, said illegal graffiti would never die out.
He added: “Some people think keeping it real is doing damage. It’s about being heard but a lot of people think it’s about being a tough man.”

• Bradford University art students Becky Croft, Megan Jones and William Wade (pictured) came down from Yorkshire this week to take pictures of Banksy’s work in London – and said the Chalk Farm piece was one of their favourites.
Becky, studying fine art and design, said: “I particularly like his sense of humour, and the fact he uses his art to make comments on current issues. It makes his art very contemporary”

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