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Stephanie Musiatski, from Belsize Park with the mural |
Half dog, half man but does graffito have Banksy pedigree?
WHAT do you call a dog with the head of a man? Not a Banksy apparently.
When this bizarre animal appeared on the wall of a disused London Underground building in Belsize Park, passers-by speculated that the graffiti maestro had struck again.
But yesterday (Wednesday) sources close to the secretive artist denied he was responsible. Instead, it appears Banksy has an imitator, who has sparked a debate on how Camden should deal with guerrilla artwork.
The “dog-man” – believed to have appeared on the wall some time last week – is just along the road from Banksy’s now-famous maid in Chalk Farm. And it is in Banksy’s favoured medium, the stencil.
Conservative environment chief Councillor Mike Greene, a self-confessed Banksy fan, believes graffiti artists with less talent than Banksy should not be allowed to deface property.
“Rather than allow graffiti wherever it crops up, we should have areas where we allow art to be shown.” he said. “We don’t want to be so blind we don’t realise that occasionally there are true artists who add to the quality of areas. The maid in Chalk Farm lifts the heart whenever you see it but that sort of quality is rare.”
But broadcaster Joan Bakewell, chairwoman of the National Campaign of the Arts who lives in Primrose Hill, laughed off the notion of graffiti that’s worth preserving, calling it a “marvellous confusion of ideas”. Ms Bakewell said: “Graffiti is about defying convention and spoiling walls, but when some of it gets good and gets called a Banksy it is preserved and ceases to defy convention. It makes a mockery of spontaneous rebellion.”
The view from the street was mixed. Lorette Noiret, a student from Chalk Farm, said: “I don’t think this dog piece is as good as the maid, but I am in favour of more street art.”
Stephanie Musiatski, from Belsize Park, said: “It’s good for the area and the owner of the building. There should be a panel of art experts set up to decide if it should stay.” |
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