The James Joyce prints were a signed edition of 150 @ £150 each and only available on the day before it officially opened to the public (which I managed to get into and buy a print - hence my avatar 😊) and think any left were then sold out on the first day.

Sold out pretty quick your right, I bought the very last one. A signed AP Outside of the official run. One of my favourite prints I own.

Do you mean that, as the Welcome mat, there is a long list of people wanting for it and waiting ?

That's a result.

I tried to get one on second visit and the very helpful lady behind the counter thought they had a few left so she vanished for around 5 minutes through the opposite door. It may have been under the VIP room, anyway she came back empty handed.
To this day I'm never sure whether she genuinely thought there were some left or whether it was a part of the Dismal experience to build my hopes, knowing full well they were all long gone.

I keep meaning to ask, your username, anything to do with Burlingtons finest?

I've been looking into where these cardboard "Banksy free art" might have come from and spotted some in a photo of Mason Storm's studio. If you look at the rest of his (publicly viewable) photos, he's a dab hand at reproducing Banksy stencils, so I'd not be surprised if he's made a load of these. Nice little earner!! There's some speculation about links between Mason Storm and Banksy. Banksy is known to work as a team of artists to execute his work. The whole concept of is it a real Banksy or not is one that was created by Banksy himself. Call it concept art or whatever, but these cardboard "free art" are part of that concept, therefore whether painted by his hand or not, they are in a way of his making. He created the environment for these to exist. Is this getting too art existential for you yet? Banksy the concept artist.... Also worth noting, Banksy may have made or commissioned other artists (more likely) to make some these and refuses to authenticate them because of the purpose behind the free art movement is for people to enjoy the art, not just that it as a material object with a value attached. Perhaps its a way of getting people to stop and see the art instead of just the money. Or maybe he's just taking the piss out of the whole art scene and idea of value, he has done that. The whole point remains that it is a mystery, but the fact that Mason Storm has these displayed in his studio adds another layer of mystery. Art is only valued at what someone is prepared to pay for it.

It's quite simple.
Mason Storm has nothing to do with Banksy.
Banksy's stencil art is made by Banksy.
No "Free Art" was given out or found at Dismaland.

Happy birthday Dismaland 8 years ago today !

By a long way the best show I’ve ever been to.

Does anyone have any of those Cinderella castle photo holders left?? Just read a post that there was loads left abandoned after the show but my photo didn’t come in one of those lol just a black folded one…… got told there was none of those left. Happy to pay postage etc can also send my picture for proof of actually having one I’m in the photo obviously

Best place to plug it corks. 

Thanks guys, I guess its time for NFTs on all annonymous artists..would really make sence...what else when not here?
I bought some Dismaland A4 Cards with backside stamps from "a guy". Guess all fake? Anyone who could help me how to figure out? Seems PEST dont analyse them no more because those are unofficials, if I understand correct?
Best
Dom

Correct.

If purchased relatively recently with a bank card, contact your card provider and request they initiate a chargeback.


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Ephemera is beyond the limited mandate of oversight that Pest Control Office has always set for itself.

To be considered for a certificate of authenticity, an item must be deemed by Pest Control Office to be a commercial "work of art" created by Banksy.

Broadly, that's restricted to the expensive stuff: Original paintings, drawings and sculptures, and limited edition prints.


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Be exceptionally wary of purported Banksy ephemera, because the vast majority is fake.

My advice is to exercise discipline and restraint, by giving yourself a purchasing ban for the next 6–12 months. Spend that time proactively learning, instead of considering other possible acquisitions.

Afterwards, you should be in a much stronger position to spot the more obvious fakes, and to roughly appraise a handful of authentic pieces. You will also have a clearer idea of the verification checks to make, along with appropriate questions to ask a seller, when carrying out your due diligence.

Right now, at least in the context of the Banksy ephemera market (a cozy, safe space for scammers and chancers), you could well be your own worst enemy and once again place yourself in financial harm's way without realising it.



Arm yourself. Knowledge and caution are key.

If I were a fraudster, the marks I would focus my efforts and attention on would be collectors currently like you: Novice and/or youngish, ignorant, relatively inexperienced, enthusiastic, fearful of missing out, perhaps prone to feeling a false sense of urgency, impatient to build a collection quickly. Therefore, pretty easily manipulated, just by laying on some charm and pushing the usual buttons.

And given how quickly I was able to identify these traits in you, rest assured that many others will have noticed them too, including characters with moral codes that are far more flexible than mine.