Banksy pink gorilla graffiti mistakenly painted over

[redred]

One of street artist Banksy's most famous early works in Bristol has been mistakenly painted over.
The gorilla in a pink mask on the wall of the ex-North Bristol Social Club, in Eastville, had been a familiar landmark in the area for more than 10 years.
But the building has recently been turned into a Muslim cultural centre.
New owner Saeed Ahmed assumed it was a regular piece of graffiti and had it painted over. "I thought it was worthless," he said.
He added: "I didn't know it was valuable and that's why I painted over it. I really am sorry if people are upset."
Local resident Dean Meadows described the whitewashing of the painting as a "big, big shame".
"It's currently being shared around the world on Twitter, so hopefully Banksy will hear and replace it himself," he said.
Mr Ahmed said he was willing to explore options to see if the whitewash can be removed and the painting restored.

http://i.imgur.com/8TobH.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BSwjz.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-14145286

[Dr Death]

That's sad!

[Foxdana]

That happened in Melbourne a while ago as well!

[Muddy]

Good ol' Saeed... :roll:

[deebakes]

damn towelheads! :axe:

[JoeyB]

Fuck Banksy. Pretentious wanker.

[redred]

Banksy gorilla artwork in Bristol partially restored


A work by street artist Banksy which was painted over on a Bristol building has been partially restored.

The gorilla in a pink mask stencil had been on the wall of the ex-North Bristol Social Club in Eastville.

But the new owner of the building, Saeed Ahmed, had never heard of Banksy and had the wall whitewashed.

It has not been revealed how the artwork was restored. Mr Ahmed, who had apologised for whitewashing it, was unavailable for comment.

http://i.imgur.com/1nMzG.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-14241717

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Better than nothing I suppose, but it will never be the same again

[redred]

i think someone is still working on it as we type tbh it's not the best piece i've seen of his i wouldn't have bothered

[Muddy]

Some pies better than none...

[redred]

:huh:

[Softdreamer]

I think the fact that these works of art are not going to be permanent is part of Banksy's character.

He does not paint on a canvas that can be moved, sold and kept forever. He deliberately uses a media that is temporary, just as the theme for the works itself is often time related, summing up a mood or a reflection on the current society. This mood or theme will be lost in a generations time, as will be the work itself.

[deebakes]

:shock:

[Hal-9000]

I think in Saeed's defense, first glance at the wall it looks like all of it is street graffiti...well done, graffiti nonetheless

[Griffin]

what's a Banksy?:-s

[Griffin]

and more importantly, why should we give a shit?

[deebakes]

looked kinda cool to begin with :-k

[JoeyB]

and more importantly, why should we give a shit?

As I said, he's a pretentious wanker, and you shouldn't care.

[lost in melb.]

what's a Banksy?:-s


An artwork 'by Banksy' :)

Have a look at the movie Through the Looking glass Window, or some title like that

[lost in melb.]

I wonder how much it was worth :-k

[AntZ]

Before:

http://i.imgur.com/8TobH.jpg

And after:

http://i.imgur.com/BSwjz.jpg


Looks like the owner did a service! The city is now one eye sore less!

If this gorilla painting is so important, why hasn't someone removed it and placed it in a museum? Just because someone vandalized a bunch of personal property in the past, that doesn't mean that vandalism becomes national treasures because the guy suddenly becomes a pop icon.

[Softdreamer]

If this gorilla painting is so important, why hasn't someone removed it and placed it in a museum? Just because someone vandalized a bunch of personal property in the past, that doesn't mean that vandalism becomes national treasures because the guy suddenly becomes a pop icon.

Exactly my point, part of Banksy's style is the irony of graffiti as art.
He probably loved the fact that it is no longer there.