Banksy, the Anonymous Artist with Messages that Confuse Authorities and Justice for Palestinians

SadaNews - His latest artwork was a rich cultural, political, and media event, as he surprised the British and the world with a sharp, critical painting he created on one of the external facades of the Royal Courts of Justice in the British capital. It depicts a bending judge holding a gavel over a protester lying on the ground, just two days after the arrest of nearly 900 people in London during a demonstration supporting the banned "Palestine Action" group.

This painting caused panic among the British government, which quickly deployed security personnel to the site and blocked the artwork from passersby who flocked for photo opportunities at the location. Later, the artwork was painted over to obscure its features.

A Secretive Persona

Banksy is described as a street artist and is one of the most famous contemporary artists, despite the fact that his real name is unknown. He gained fame through his works that carry deep political and humanitarian messages, painted in a style of black comedy and spread worldwide.

According to some acquaintances, he was born in 1974 in Bristol (South West England) and is believed to be named Robert Banksy, although there is no confirmed identity and his biography remains largely unknown.

His first appearance in 2003 saw Banksy's art on the walls of Bristol and London, raising numerous questions about his persona and ideas, particularly regarding an image of the Mona Lisa holding a bomb.

He was selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

In 2007, Banksy received the award for Greatest Living Artist in Britain, presented by British ITV, and as expected, he did not attend to collect his award, keeping his identity a mystery even today.

Although The Mail on Sunday conducted an investigation in 2008 and named this artist "Robin Gunningham," Banksy's identity remains unconfirmed.

This artist has never publicly revealed his identity, but in 2019, photographer Steve Lazarides, Banksy's former agent, published a book offering the public a rare glimpse of the artist at work.

The book contained many previously unseen photos of the artist, none of which revealed his face.

Tearing Up His Most Famous Painting

Banksy became widely known after the incident of shredding his famous painting "Girl with a Balloon," which he painted in 2012, representing a young girl reaching out for a red heart-shaped balloon.

After announcing the closure of the auction at Sotheby's in 2018 for £1.4 million ($1.8 million), the painting began to shred itself through a device hidden by the artist inside the artwork.

Banksy's recent artwork has once again brought him to the forefront, as he may face a different challenge. The London police announced that they opened an investigation after a mural was painted on the external wall of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, categorized as a Grade I building among historic structures, meaning he would reveal his identity to the media if arrested.

The police stated that they received a report of "criminal damage" to the building and investigations are ongoing.

This development is one of the most significant events that could help unmask Banksy, as he would be obligated to disclose his name if he appeared before the court.

Criminal property damage classified as a Grade I offense can carry a punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment if the damage exceeds £5,000 (around $6,700), or 3 months and a fine of up to £2,500 (around $3,300) if less.

This new mural adds to Banksy's series of controversial works, as he previously executed 9 murals in London last year, all inspired by the animal kingdom, ending with a mural depicting a gorilla opening the zoo gate to liberate a sea lion and birds.

Banksy and Palestine

Banksy’s story with Palestine began with his drawings on the separation wall and on the walls of camps in the occupied West Bank.

This artist has been working in the West Bank and Gaza since 2005 and has auctioned his paintings to raise funds for Palestinians.

He insisted on reaching Gaza in 2014 through tunnels, painting his works on the walls and doors of destroyed homes, including a cat playing with a metal ball, and told the owner of the demolished house – who surrounded the painting with wood to preserve it – that the cat symbolizes the right to life.

Banksy published a short film at the time to draw the world's attention to Gaza, stating that the Israeli assault on Gaza destroyed 18,000 homes, saying, "If we wash our hands of the conflict between the stronger and the weaker, we are siding with the stronger, so we will not be neutral."

Banksy's works on the separation wall require significant artistic care to maintain their cultural importance and serve as a historical record of the wall; some may need to be relocated to safe places to protect them from natural erosion factors.

A missing piece from his artwork, seen in a gallery in Tel Aviv, revealed that the occupation left nothing owned by the Palestinians except that it was stolen and tampered with.

"Slingshot Rat," a painting on a concrete block, first appeared at an abandoned site of the Israeli army in Bethlehem next to part of the wall in 2007 and is one of several works Banksy secretly painted.

After some time, the painting was concealed and later removed by unknown individuals.

According to reports, the ownership of the painting passed to Israeli dealer Kobi Abergel, who said he bought it from a friend in Bethlehem, refusing to disclose the amount he paid or identify the seller, but insisted on the legality of the deal.

The acrylic paint sprayed over the original work was removed, and the 400-kilogram concrete slab was placed in a steel frame so it could be lifted onto a truck and transported to its new site.

"Slingshot Rat" passed through an Israeli military checkpoint to reach Tel Aviv.

Amid the brutal war on Gaza, Banksy sent a tribute of respect and remembrance to the children and women of Gaza with a painting depicting children ascending to the sky while holding a red balloon.

An Outlaw Artist

Banksy refuses to reveal his identity so he can express his ideas and dreams freely without interference from the press or authorities who consider his paintings illegal and damaging to public property.

As authorities rush to erase Banksy's drawings from the surfaces of walls, the artist turns to social media to document his works before they are deleted or plundered, as has happened with many of his wall paintings.

This anti-war, anti-authoritarian, and anti-capitalist satirical artist has become a symbol of British culture, even transcending to become a symbol for the human artist rebelling against all forms of authority and injustice.

While art thieves cut his works from street walls to sell them at auctions, Banksy has preserved the secrecy of his persona for over three decades, and various parties, especially global auction houses, collaborate to obscure his identity for more profits. This mystery adds a charm and intrigue to the persona of an artist who prefers to work in secrecy.

Source: Al Jazeera