Turf War (Banksy)

"Turf War" was the first major exhibition by artist Banksy, staged in a warehouse on Kingsland Road in London's East End in 2003.

Description

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The exhibition was held in an East London warehouse over several days in July 2003, and featured painted animals, including pigs in police colours, sheep in "concentration camp stripes", and a cow with Andy Warhol's face.[1][2][3] The New Yorker described the show as "a Barnumesque spectacle, staged at a secret location", and noted the inclusion of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as a chimpanzee.[4] The show also displayed vandalized classic oil paintings.[5] The exhibition was partly sponsored by the fashion brand Puma, who produced collaborative t-shirts and sneakers featuring 'Turf War' branding.[6]

The exhibition's location was not revealed until one day before it began.[7] "Turf War" marked Banksy's first gallery show in the United Kingdom.[8]

Reception

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Banksy biographer Will Ellsworth-Jones regards "Turf War" as Banksy's "breakthrough" exhibition.[9][10] Artnet said the exhibition was "one of England's best -- and briefest" of the season.[11] The exhibition, which featured live animals, sparked protests by animal rights group. One activist chained herself to the railings surrounding a painted cow, despite approvals the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[12][13][14] Jamie Oliver attended the exhibition.[15]

In 2014 and 2015, Business Insider's Christian Storm and Jack Sommer mentioned the exhibition in their overviews, "25 of Banksy's Cleverest Works" and "Banksy's most clever works", respectively.[16][17] Some of the exhibition's artworks were put up for sale by Steve Lazarides in 2018.[18][19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Animals sprayed by graffiti artist". BBC News. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ Irish, Oliver (19 July 2003). "Shock of the moo". The Observer. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Banksy: The joker". The Independent. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ^ Collins, Lauren (7 May 2007). "Banksy Was Here". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. ^ Bracken, Matt (17 October 2013). "Banksy". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Burner Prize 2003".
  7. ^ "Banksy: A guerilla in our midst". The Independent. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  8. ^ Hattenstone, Simon (17 July 2003). "Something to spray". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  9. ^ Ellsworth-Jones, Will (2013). Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall. St. Martins. p. 126. ISBN 9781250025746. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  10. ^ Ellsworth-Jones, Will (February 2013). "The Story Behind Banksy". Smithsonian. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  11. ^ La Placa, Joe. "London Calling". Artnet. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  12. ^ Sen, Raka (17 October 2013). "The Art Evolution of Banksy". Complex. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ^ Abrams, Amah-Rose (12 November 2015). "Banksy: Artist, Activist, Agitator". Arnet. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  14. ^ "You Are What You Read". Art21 Magazine. 4 March 2010.
  15. ^ "Hottest artist around". Evening Standard. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  16. ^ Storm, Christian (24 October 2014). "25 of Banksy's Cleverest Works". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  17. ^ Sommer, Jack (21 August 2015). "24 of Banksy's most clever works". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  18. ^ Cascone, Sarah (30 May 2018). "The Biggest Banksy Sale Ever? Dealer Steve Lazarides Plans an Unsanctioned Show of the Artist's 'Golden Years'". Artnet. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Banksy's records will tumble in 'greatest hits' show, former dealer says". theartnewspaper.com. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
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