Artist Banksy opens pop-up shop in trademark dispute | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Women walk past a recent artwork by anonymous street artist Banksy on June 28, 2018, in Paris. - Following multiple detorations of Banksy's artwork this week, his mural of a man holding a handsaw behind his back and offering a bone to a dog which leg has been cut off, had allegedly been protected with plexiglass by art lovers which has now been ripped off, near the Sorbonne University, in the center of Paris. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Tuesday 10/2/2019 – 01:33 UTC+8

 

Art fans and curious shoppers crowded around a disused shop in south London on Monday after notorious street artist Banksy set up a mini art exhibition in protest at a greetings card company.

 

Scores of people vied for a view of some of the guerilla graffiti artist’s works, including the stab vest he designed for grime artist Stormzy to wear during his headline performance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

 

The exhibition popped up overnight on Surrey Street, in Croydon, with the exhibits shown behind large glass windows, under a shop sign reading “Gross Domestic Product.”

 

Banksy said in a statement that his motivation was “possibly the least poetic reason to ever make some art.”

 

“A greetings cards company is contesting the trademark I hold to my art, and attempting to take custody of my name so they can sell their fake Banksy merchandise legally,” he wrote.

 

Banksy said he had been prompted to open a shop as a way to get around copyright law after the greetings card company launched a legal bid to use his name to sell “fake” merchandise.

 

“I think they’re banking on the idea I won’t show up in court to defend myself,” he added.

 

Banksy said that proceeds would go towards buying a new migrant rescue boat to replace one confiscated by Italy.

 

Other works on show include a baby’s crib underneath a mobile made of security cameras and a reimagining of breakfast cereal character Tony the Tiger as a rug.

 

Framed images of his works adorn the shop walls, while a battered armchair decorated with cushions reading “life’s too short” sits in front of a fireplace.

 

jwp/phz/dcr

© Agence France-Presse

 

Cover image: Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

MOST VIEWED STORIES