There are many artists, millions of them, who produce work diligently from which effort will never be shown much less remembered. Among the millions, there will hundreds of thousands whose works rival that of the best the world has ever seen.
Among the plethora of intellectual artists, some work in media like the air we breathe, and if you missed the performance, unless it was captured by happenstance, you may never see it nor ever know how great it was.
In the instance of “Banksy,” his work remains wherever people want to keep it. Where they don’t it will decay as fast as paint stays on a wall surviving the elements without care.
They describe him as a freehand artist, and I add, stencilist. Free spiriting is a good gig when you find it.
"There are crimes that become innocent and even glorious through their splendour, number and excess."
– Banksy
“Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.”
See images at the story link below.
"Banksy
Stolen, vandalised & faded... a lifetime of street artFading away ... Banksy's Gas Mask Girl in Brick Lane, East London
By EMILY FAIRBAIRN
BANKSY is one of Britain’s most-loved contemporary artists — but future generations may never get to see the street paintings that have won so many fans.
The recent hacking of one mural from a wall is just one of many sad fates suffered by the elusive graffiti artist’s works.
Eye-catching Slave Labour, showing a boy making Union Jack bunting on a sewing machine, was chiselled off the side of a Poundland store in Wood Green, north London.
It then almost immediately showed up for auction in Miami.Eager auctioneers expected it to make £460,000, based on the prices of portable pieces made by the artist specifically to be sold.
But they had to withdraw it at the last minute last week after an uproar.In fact, the murals are worthless if they are ripped from their settings, as they are seen as stolen goods and Banksy will refuse to give his all-important authentication.
But even if they do remain on their original walls, they are not always safe, a Sun investigation has revealed.
Some have been vandalised, some painted over by well-meaning bunglers and some have just faded away into ghosts of themselves — victims of time and weather.
Here is how some of the Bristol-based artist’s best-known works are faring:
1. Gas Mask Girl (main image)
This image of a little girl in a Blitz-style gas mask, in Brick Lane, Spitalfields, East London, appeared in 2004.Never protected, it has faded so much that it has now almost vanished.
Disappointed local resident Valentina Rossi, 31, said: “It must have disappeared within the last month which is a shame.”
2. Very Little Helps
Defaced ... mural in North London
London MediaTwo children saluting a flag made from a Tesco carrier bag appeared overnight on the side of a chemist’s shop in Essex Road, Islington, North London, in 2008.
Before ... Very Little Helps
Today the kids are hidden behind white paint and a rival graffiti artist has scrawled “HRH King Robbo” over the bag.3. Cash Machine Girl
Defaced ... Cash Machine Girl
London MediaOne of Banksy’s most famous images, in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, East London, is also one of the most badly damaged.
The image of a girl being abducted by a cash machine appeared in 2007 but has since been splattered with white paint.
As it was ... mural showing cash machine abducting girl
Perspex was recently put over it to prevent further vandalism.4. No Ball Games
Fading ... No Ball Games
London Media
This 2009 mural on Tottenham High Road in North London, showing two boys throwing a sign like a ball, also now has a shield.Former glory ... graffiti in Tottenham
Unfortunately, the protection came after its “No Ball Games” sign had already been painted over.5. Giant Rat
Hidden ... site of Giant Rat
London Media
One of the artist’s oldest works has now been completely hidden by a wooden frame, installed by the buildings’ owners to protect it.Before ... Banksy mural
Barcroft
They are planning to move the mural when the now-derelict building, in Old Street, Shoreditch, East London, is sold.
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