There have been many ‘Banksy exhibitions’ the world over, but did you know that it’s likely these shows are not endorsed by the artist? As the artist’s website ‘Pest Control Office‘ has shared in their FAQ section ‘I see a lot of different exhibitions of Banksy work opening in a lot of different countries, what’s going on? Banksy is not involved or associated with any of them.’ Until now…
‘Cut and Run: 25 years card labour’ is verified by Banksy and is on view now until 28 August at the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow (GoMA), Scotland. The exhibition comprises stencils from 1998 to 2023 which are presented in playful and informative installations in two-dimensional formats as well as on found objects.
The artist recently shared a sneak peek tour of the show lead by Scottish comedians Frankie Boyle and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd. The experience appears to be a thoughtful and immersive showcase summoning the social and outdoor environments the works have been created in over the years, also it’s clear that ‘Cut and Run’ communicates the joyous, funny and rebellious energy of Banksy’s work, a sentiment echoed on the website.
Useful and amusing viewer questions are answered online, such as is ‘Cut and Run’ suitable for kids?; ‘Yes, there are no swear words and all adult themes are dealt with quite childishly.’ In another merry amendment to what we ‘normally’ expect from an art show Banky’s exhibition will be open late, from 9am to 11pm Sunday through Thursday and on Friday and Saturday it will be open until 5am the following mornings! GoMA notes, ‘At weekends we are open all night but please be aware the show contains tight spaces, fragile items and disorientating light effects, if you show up appearing to be very intoxicated you may be refused entry.’
This is the first time Banksy has had a solo show in 14 years, the artist shared;
‘I’ve kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage. But that moment seems to have passed, so now I’m exhibiting them in a gallery as works of art. I’m not sure which is the greater crime.’