‘Fake Banksy’ Artists Reveal How Mural Was Created To Fool Passersby In Glasgow
Last month, street artist Banksy announced he would be holding his first solo exhibition in over a decade, which is currently showing at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, Scotland, till August 28, 2023.
When multiple instances of murals began popping up on walls in the city, many believed the elusive illustrator was behind the work, leaving behind the artworks as a complementary addition to the ongoing showcase.
However, it turns out that two local Glaswegian artists have claimed responsibility for at least one of the knockoff pieces and are offering insight into the behind-the-scenes process of how they created the Pranksies.
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According to the BBC, the experiment began with an illustration of a rodent donning a Union Jack while playing the drums on the side of a building. The words accompanying the mural read: “God Save the King,” while its tail was caught in a mousetrap with the UK tabloid The Sun used as bait.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Lunchtime Live, artists Ciaran Globel and Conzo Throb explained that the initial idea was fueled by curiosity, with the duo looking to find out what would happen if they placed a piece of artwork on the street that was thought to be of high value.
As per the pair, they were interested in observing how the city of Glasgow would interact with the painting and how individuals within the area would perceive it. Shortly after the image went viral, both Globel and Throb took credit for the work on social media, showing off the process.
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To get started on the pseudo-Banksy, Throb first studied the famed artist’s past and present works in order to get “into the mind of Banksy.” He wanted the mural to be convincing enough to pass off as the real deal, while still incorporating the duo’s own spin on it.
The project hit a snag early on when the artists were nearly caught in the act of painting the piece. A security guard had spotted them and painted over the art when they were away on a coffee break.
The most interesting aspect, perhaps, is what immediately followed when it was revealed that the work was not a Banksy. Globel and Throb said they’d expected the swift change in public opinion, which a valued artwork turning into an “eyesore” once it was determined to be a fake.
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Unfortunately, the work has since been partially painted over by the Glasgow City Council and will eventually be removed. A council spokesperson told PA News Agency that fans looking for a “true Banksy” should head on over to the exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art instead.
[via BBC and ARTnews, cover image via Marktucan | Dreamstime.com]
