Iconic UK street artist and the instigator of that regrettable stenciling trend Banksy has left a mural on the wall of Bristol’s Bridge Farm primary school as thanks for them naming a house after him.
And while school administrators may be very happy with the highly valued piece of graffiti, they’re less impressed with the note left by the artist urging the kids to “remember it’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission.”
The artwork – a childlike drawing of a school girl pushing a very realistic burning tire along the wall – appeared overnight along with the note, which in full reads: “Dear Bridge Farm, thanks for your letter and naming a house after me. Please have a picture. If you don’t like it, feel free to add stuff – I’m sure the teachers won’t mind. Remember – it’s always easier to get forgiveness than permission. With love, Banksy.”
Pest Control, Banksy’s agents who also authenticate his work, confirmed to The Guardian that the work was genuine, also revealing the school has framed the note.
They did also offer a warning that “because many Banksy pieces are created in an advanced state of intoxication the authentication process can be lengthy and challenging.” Banksy made things a bit easier this time though, including a signature on the mural, very out of keeping with his habit of anonymity. Mind you, in the high stakes world of real and fake Banksy works, even a signature is no guarantee of authenticity.
Banksy found out about the name change after students wrote to him before Easter letting him know they voted to name one of the houses after him, along with some other big Bristol names. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Blackbeard the pirate, 15th-century explorer John Cabot and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer of Bristol’s famous Avon Gorge suspension bridge, it’s not bad company for someone who is essentially an incredibly well-paid vandal.
While many such street pieces by the artist have been painstakingly peeled off walls to be sold at auction for as much as $500,000, the school’s headteacher Geoff Mason is firm in his resolve not to sell it, describing it as a great “inspirational and aspirational” work for the pupils.
While they love the mural, the school doesn’t love Banksy’s suggestion that the kids “feel free to add stuff”, Mason confirming they will be preserving the work as is.
Considering the advice that came along with it though, we’ll see how long that lasts.
