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Its tone is classic Banksy, combining grim humour and dryness with a rather cheerful whimsy.
I am especially fond of two elements:
1. The misleading simplicity, which is characteristic of the artist
This installation required greater planning, effort and actual work than what is evident at first glance.
Some relatively challenging aspects of the creation, such as the window curtains made with corrugated steel sheets, can easily go unnoticed. Like an illusionist or professional athlete, Banksy makes it all look pretty easy.
2. The execution of the fill-ins for the boy and his cat
Relative perfection with the silhouettes could have been achieved without difficulty. However, pristineness was deliberately shunned in favour of roughness.
What we end up with is a more interesting texture/aesthetic. And also a certain fast-and-loose spirit (even if calculated) that is engaging to viewers like myself โ who are drawn to the anarchic, graffiti side of street art, more so than to the clinical, graphic-design-style influences within the scene.
Additional comments:
3. Query whether parts of this installation might possibly have been salvaged prior to the wall being knocked down.
I hope not. Because, perception-wise, complete destruction makes for a much better story. Though it does remain a possibility.
4. My one general criticism is Banksy's consistent use of somewhat feeble puns โ in this instance, Morning is broken.
A little too often, those puns are just not strong enough to be deemed very clever. And they also are not terrible enough to be knowingly poor, in a so-bad-it's-funny kind of way.
But, granted, they do have the benefit of being memorable, as was also the case with Valentine's day mascara.
Remains of Banksy artwork on Blacksole Farm building near Herne Bay recovered from skip
Chantal Weller cweller@thekmgroup.co.uk Published: 17:00, 15 March 2023 | Updated: 17:17, 15 March 2023
The remains of a Banksy artwork which could have sold for millions have been fished out of a skip after it was torn down by oblivious builders.
The artist confirmed the piece on the side of a derelict building at Blacksole Farm near Herne Bay earlier today - but it had already been demolished.
Builders have found a large part of the Banksy artwork in Herne Bay. Picture: Adam Brooks
Workmen at the site told KentOnline they "felt sick" after finding out the stencilled image on the side of the 500-year-old former farmhouse was a genuine Banksy.
Work by the elusive artist has been sold in the past for millions of pounds.
Banksy fan Adam Brooks was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the work as builders pulled it out of the skip.
"I went to have lunch and saw the Banksy post on Instagram," he said.
"I recognised the building straight away and I was only a minute away so I jumped in my van and went down there.
"I spoke to the builders and they said they had seen someone in black on the hill this morning taking a photo of the building but did not think anything of it.
"Since this morning, their bosses have phoned and told them to try and dig out any of the Banksy piece from the skip."
Banksy confirmed he was behind the piece on the side of the derelict building this morning. Picture: Adam Brooks
While Mr Brooks was speaking with the builders, others on the site managed to find a large piece of rubble which had most of the artwork on.
"It was like finding treasure," he said.
"I have a couple of Banksy prints but not originals.
"To see a piece that had freshly come off a building was pretty cool.
"It was like the holy grail coming out of a skip."
[...]
Mr Brooks lives in Mill Lane, which is very close to the site, and says it is exciting to think Banksy has been right on his doorstep.
"I think it is more exciting that he has come to Herne Bay. It is nice to see something so local," he said.
"I really like Banksy art and to have it initially in my road it makes me think 'did he drive past my house, did I walk past him on the street?' - it is a bit exciting.
"I think he must have wanted it to be destroyed because he usually posts his work if he wants people to see it.
"He has obviously been hanging around for it to be demolished so it is obviously his intention that it was destroyed in some way for this particular piece.
"I know a lot of his pieces tend to be more political whereas the 'Morning has broken' piece really was about a derelict building being torn down."
The artwork featured a silhouette of a boy pulling open corrugated iron curtains, with a cat peering out from behind him.
Its tone is classic Banksy, combining grim humour and dryness with a rather cheerful whimsy.
I am especially fond of two elements:
1. The misleading simplicity, which is characteristic of the artist
This installation required greater planning, effort and actual work than what is evident at first glance.
Some relatively challenging aspects of the creation, such as the window curtains made with corrugated steel sheets, can easily go unnoticed. Like an illusionist or professional athlete, Banksy makes it all look pretty easy.
2. The execution of the fill-ins for the boy and his cat
Relative perfection with the silhouettes could have been achieved without difficulty. However, pristineness was deliberately shunned in favour of roughness.
What we end up with is a more interesting texture/aesthetic. And also a certain fast-and-loose spirit (even if calculated) that is engaging to viewers like myself โ who are drawn to the anarchic, graffiti side of street art, more so than to the clinical, graphic-design-style influences within the scene.
Additional comments:
3. Query whether parts of this installation might possibly have been salvaged prior to the wall being knocked down.
I hope not. Because, perception-wise, complete destruction makes for a much better story. Though it does remain a possibility.
4. My one general criticism is Banksy's consistent use of somewhat feeble puns โ in this instance, Morning is broken.
A little too often, those puns are just not strong enough to be deemed very clever. And they also are not terrible enough to be knowingly poor, in a so-bad-it's-funny kind of way.
But, granted, they do have the benefit of being memorable, as was also the case with Valentine's day mascara.
Remains of Banksy artwork on Blacksole Farm building near Herne Bay recovered from skip
Chantal Weller cweller@thekmgroup.co.uk Published: 17:00, 15 March 2023 | Updated: 17:17, 15 March 2023
The remains of a Banksy artwork which could have sold for millions have been fished out of a skip after it was torn down by oblivious builders.
The artist confirmed the piece on the side of a derelict building at Blacksole Farm near Herne Bay earlier today - but it had already been demolished.
Builders have found a large part of the Banksy artwork in Herne Bay. Picture: Adam Brooks
Workmen at the site told KentOnline they "felt sick" after finding out the stencilled image on the side of the 500-year-old former farmhouse was a genuine Banksy.
Work by the elusive artist has been sold in the past for millions of pounds.
Banksy fan Adam Brooks was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the work as builders pulled it out of the skip.
"I went to have lunch and saw the Banksy post on Instagram," he said.
"I recognised the building straight away and I was only a minute away so I jumped in my van and went down there.
"I spoke to the builders and they said they had seen someone in black on the hill this morning taking a photo of the building but did not think anything of it.
"Since this morning, their bosses have phoned and told them to try and dig out any of the Banksy piece from the skip."
Banksy confirmed he was behind the piece on the side of the derelict building this morning. Picture: Adam Brooks
While Mr Brooks was speaking with the builders, others on the site managed to find a large piece of rubble which had most of the artwork on.
"It was like finding treasure," he said.
"I have a couple of Banksy prints but not originals.
"To see a piece that had freshly come off a building was pretty cool.
"It was like the holy grail coming out of a skip."
[...]
Mr Brooks lives in Mill Lane, which is very close to the site, and says it is exciting to think Banksy has been right on his doorstep.
"I think it is more exciting that he has come to Herne Bay. It is nice to see something so local," he said.
"I really like Banksy art and to have it initially in my road it makes me think 'did he drive past my house, did I walk past him on the street?' - it is a bit exciting.
"I think he must have wanted it to be destroyed because he usually posts his work if he wants people to see it.
"He has obviously been hanging around for it to be demolished so it is obviously his intention that it was destroyed in some way for this particular piece.
"I know a lot of his pieces tend to be more political whereas the 'Morning has broken' piece really was about a derelict building being torn down."
The artwork featured a silhouette of a boy pulling open corrugated iron curtains, with a cat peering out from behind him.
Last Edit: Mar 15, 2023 20:22:47 GMT 1 by met: Formatting correction.
Its tone is classic Banksy, combining grim humour and dryness with a rather cheerful whimsy.
I am especially fond of two elements:
1. The misleading simplicity, which is characteristic of the artist
This installation required greater planning, effort and actual work than what is evident at first glance.
Some relatively challenging aspects of the creation, such as the window curtains made with corrugated steel sheets, can easily go unnoticed. Like an illusionist or professional athlete, Banksy makes it all look pretty easy.
2. The execution of the fill-ins for the boy and his cat
Relative perfection with the silhouettes could have been achieved without difficulty. However, pristineness was deliberately shunned in favour of roughness.
What we end up with is a more interesting texture/aesthetic. And also a certain fast-and-loose spirit (even if calculated) that is engaging to viewers like myself โ who are drawn to the anarchic, graffiti side of street art, more so than to the clinical, graphic-design-style influences within the scene.
Additional comments:
3. Query whether parts of this installation might possibly have been salvaged prior to the wall being knocked down.
I hope not. Because, perception-wise, complete destruction makes for a much better story. Though it does remain a possibility.
4. My one general criticism is Banksy's consistent use of somewhat feeble puns โ in this instance, Morning is broken.
A little too often, those puns are just not strong enough to be deemed very clever. And they also are not terrible enough to be knowingly poor, in a so-bad-it's-funny kind of way.
But, granted, they do have the benefit of being memorable, as was also the case with Valentine's day mascara.
Its tone is classic Banksy, combining grim humour and dryness with a rather cheerful whimsy.
I am especially fond of two elements:
1. The misleading simplicity, which is characteristic of the artist
This installation required greater planning, effort and actual work than what is evident at first glance.
Some relatively challenging aspects of the creation, such as the window curtains made with corrugated steel sheets, can easily go unnoticed. Like an illusionist or professional athlete, Banksy makes it all look pretty easy.
2. The execution of the fill-ins for the boy and his cat
Relative perfection with the silhouettes could have been achieved without difficulty. However, pristineness was deliberately shunned in favour of roughness.
What we end up with is a more interesting texture/aesthetic. And also a certain fast-and-loose spirit (even if calculated) that is engaging to viewers like myself โ who are drawn to the anarchic, graffiti side of street art, more so than to the clinical, graphic-design-style influences within the scene.
Additional comments:
3. Query whether parts of this installation might possibly have been salvaged prior to the wall being knocked down.
I hope not. Because, perception-wise, complete destruction makes for a much better story. Though it does remain a possibility.
4. My one general criticism is Banksy's consistent use of somewhat feeble puns โ in this instance, Morning is broken.
A little too often, those puns are just not strong enough to be deemed very clever. And they also are not terrible enough to be knowingly poor, in a so-bad-it's-funny kind of way.
But, granted, they do have the benefit of being memorable, as was also the case with Valentine's day mascara.
The works in Afterlife In Episodes are created โaccidentallyโ in artist, designer, joiner and cabinetmaker Nick McAuleyโs workshop. They are the shadows of years of intricate and meticulous measuring and cutting โ the seemingly random lines given a new narrative of their own by McAuleyโs meditative use of colour, mapping his own thoughts and experiences onto the machine-made marks.
McAuley studied painting at Wimbledon School of Art, working as a scene painter to support his fine art practice. This led to carpentry work on film, tv and theatre sets, which gave him the skills to develop his own craft as a maker of bespoke joinery and carpentry. He protects his cutting bench with MDF boards โ these become crisscrossed with intriguing, beautiful marks. McAuley felt compelled to keep these histories of his work when a set of MDF boards had come to the end of their useful life. He sprayed them black, then covered them with a thin coat of white, leaving the marks like tracks in snow. Hung around his workshop, they became inspirational objects to contemplate while pondering the next table leg or door moulding.
Lockdown brought more prolonged periods of contemplation, and the marks on the MDF started to remind the artist of paths trod, roads taken, routes explored. He was inspired to start adding colour to the boards; their ruts and furrows becoming like neural networks of memory and experience. These beautiful marks echo the creation of useful, carefully crafted objects, but the boards also stand alone as creations in their own right and invite the observer to trace the paths of their own stories.
paint on MDF approx 68cm square ยฃ450
Paint on MDF each panel appox 80x120cm
paint on MDF approx 60cm square ยฃ450
all work can be bought in ten equal interest free payments from Own Art
Exhibition opens tonight March 10th then on til March 25th email info@atomgallery.co.uk for pdf catalogue of all work
The show has gone really well, the triptych and 6 of the 13 square ones have sold, all on the shop now.
Nice pieces. Thank you for posting.
I had not previously heard of Nick McAuley. His backstory is engaging as well.
When considering the purchase of art for one's collection, price should only become relevant if the prerequisite criterion of interest/calibre has already been satisfied.
And in this instance, it's worth noting that your pricing for reasonably-sized, framed originals by McAuley is comparable to what plenty of other artists are charging for derivative multiples on paper.
While distinct, both conceptually and in terms of process, McAuley's art reminds me of some works by Sarah Morris and Augustine Kofie.
In case he is unfamiliar with either, I recommend that he check them out.
The works in Afterlife In Episodes are created โaccidentallyโ in artist, designer, joiner and cabinetmaker Nick McAuleyโs workshop. They are the shadows of years of intricate and meticulous measuring and cutting โ the seemingly random lines given a new narrative of their own by McAuleyโs meditative use of colour, mapping his own thoughts and experiences onto the machine-made marks.
McAuley studied painting at Wimbledon School of Art, working as a scene painter to support his fine art practice. This led to carpentry work on film, tv and theatre sets, which gave him the skills to develop his own craft as a maker of bespoke joinery and carpentry. He protects his cutting bench with MDF boards โ these become crisscrossed with intriguing, beautiful marks. McAuley felt compelled to keep these histories of his work when a set of MDF boards had come to the end of their useful life. He sprayed them black, then covered them with a thin coat of white, leaving the marks like tracks in snow. Hung around his workshop, they became inspirational objects to contemplate while pondering the next table leg or door moulding.
Lockdown brought more prolonged periods of contemplation, and the marks on the MDF started to remind the artist of paths trod, roads taken, routes explored. He was inspired to start adding colour to the boards; their ruts and furrows becoming like neural networks of memory and experience. These beautiful marks echo the creation of useful, carefully crafted objects, but the boards also stand alone as creations in their own right and invite the observer to trace the paths of their own stories.
paint on MDF approx 68cm square ยฃ450
Paint on MDF each panel appox 80x120cm
paint on MDF approx 60cm square ยฃ450
all work can be bought in ten equal interest free payments from Own Art
Exhibition opens tonight March 10th then on til March 25th email info@atomgallery.co.uk for pdf catalogue of all work
The show has gone really well, the triptych and 6 of the 13 square ones have sold, all on the shop now.
Nice pieces. Thank you for posting.
I had not previously heard of Nick McAuley. His backstory is engaging as well.
When considering the purchase of art for one's collection, price should only become relevant if the prerequisite criterion of interest/calibre has already been satisfied.
And in this instance, it's worth noting that your pricing for reasonably-sized, framed originals by McAuley is comparable to what plenty of other artists are charging for derivative multiples on paper.
While distinct, both conceptually and in terms of process, McAuley's art reminds me of some works by Sarah Morris and Augustine Kofie.
In case he is unfamiliar with either, I recommend that he check them out.
Which is why people quoting the value works are bid up to whilst not selling is a nonsense and not worth taking into consideration if considering market value.
Then you have "Bought In" were the auction house buys the work. Often used by auction houses to get high end works to auction whilst guaranteeing the work is not burnt.
The text highlighted in red is incorrect.
An auction lot that is "bought in" simply means it is unsold โ with bidding (if any) having failed to reach the reserve price.
Which is why people quoting the value works are bid up to whilst not selling is a nonsense and not worth taking into consideration if considering market value.
Then you have "Bought In" were the auction house buys the work. Often used by auction houses to get high end works to auction whilst guaranteeing the work is not burnt.
The text highlighted in red is incorrect.
An auction lot that is "bought in" simply means it is unsold โ with bidding (if any) having failed to reach the reserve price.
Hi met, thanks for the question. I presume youโve only just seen this listing as there are only a few hours of the listing left now ๐
I bought four pasters (pasters, not posters as these were designed to be pasted up) from a gallery in the states. Two are signed, the other two unsigned. This was a few years ago, and sorry but I canโt now recall the name of the gallery, but they had many of mr bโs other works, plus other artists, many of which were high value, so I had no reason to question where they came from and assumed them to be genuine. It wasnโt signari gallery. I no longer have any receipts or other โproof of purchaseโ.
I donโt think you have contacted me via eBay with the same question, otherwise Iโd have answered your question via eBay. And as there have been issues with logging into UAA (separate thread regarding โserver not foundโ message), Iโve only just seen your message above. Hope that helps, but at the end of the day you can probably see from my other items for sale and feedback etc I have no reason to doubt this paster is genuine. The number of bids probably backs this up too. Good luck if you decide to place a last minute bid. ๐ค
Thank you for getting back to me.
1. Unfortunately, the Madonna paster you were selling or sold on eBay is a fake. And both to my mind and eyes, a pretty obvious fake.
1.1 If you reach out to Mr Brainwash's team, I am confident they will confirm the same.
1.2 It looks to me like the paster could be one of the many forgeries churned out by the Swedish failed-artist-cum-counterfeiter, Patrick Agler, a.k.a. Patrick Maske, a.k.a. Michael Kadaz, a.k.a. Robert Hilmersson.*
2. As a minor aside, I have zero interest in Mr Brainwash as an artist. Yet, as is the case with many other collectors, I do take an interest in โ and I'm rather militant about โ fake artworks being passed off as authentic.
One of the reasons I'm a member of this message board is to promote open dialogue and good-faith, public exchanges of information and viewpoints. That includes encouraging people to think twice before buying low-calibre art and, as a courtesy heads-up, pointing out cases of counterfeits when I occasionally spot them.
3. Notwithstanding what you've mentioned above, there were reasons to question where the pasters came from.
This was an opportunity to carry out your due diligence.
Simply assuming items to be genuine is tantamount to placing one's trust in superficial appearances, or even in faith. That is the antithesis of healthy scepticism, and of our personal responsibilities as art collectors.
3.1 Whether they're corrupt, recklessly negligent, or just shamefully ignorant/incompetent, dealers and auction houses trading in fakes tend to trade in authentic artworks as well. Their businesses wouldn't last very long otherwise.
3.2 Madonna pasters were created and put up in 2009, as part of the promotional campaign for the release of her greatest hits record, Celebration. The pasters varied in size, and a few notable ones were enormous. However, none of them were in the format of your item.
3.3 Many of the Madonna promo pasters were also hand-finished. But again, none like yours.
The thickness of the paint, along with the individualised effort and detail on yours, should have been a giveaway.
Hand-finished pasters for commercial marketing purposes are not made in such a manner. First, it's too time-consuming (i.e. not worth the effort for disposable pieces made in the dozens or hundreds that might, if lucky, last a week in the street). Second, any thick application of acrylic on pasters would hinder the paper's later absorption of wheatpaste โ thereby making those pasters less suitable for their intended purpose.
3.4 Some official Mr Brainwash Madonna posters were actually released in a similar format to your paster. If I were to guess, one of these posters was used by the counterfeiter to create a new screen from which the fake pasters were then produced.
There is a visible loss of quality in the fakes, and a couple of the more obvious tells are the unintended dark blotches on Madonna's chin and neck. These will have resulted from the reproduction screen having been poorly made (with possible tearing/damage to the cured photo emulsion). The same blotch patterns are visible on a separate counterfeit Madonna paster that was sold by Signari Gallery.
3.5 Notwithstanding minor variations over the years, the signature of Mr Brainwash has always been distinctive and recognisable.
Per contra, the signature on yours was clearly not of Brainwash's hand, and should normally have been a red flag. He just doesn't sign like that.
[If you'll pardon my candour, I suspected you might actually have questioned in your own mind the authenticity of the signature on your paster.
This could explain the absence in your eBay listing of a close-up photo of the signature, which is odd given its importance and impact on perceived financial value. It could also explain why the context shot with the signature is blurry (when all of your other listing photos are in focus).
However, I do appreciate this is speculation on my part, and arguably unfair. I've mentioned it mainly to help illustrate part of my thought process.]
4. Additional comments on your last post:
4.1 The authenticity status of your other items is irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake. Selling one or more legitimate pieces is hardly a guarantee that all the others will be legitimate as well.
4.2 The number of bids placed on your eBay auction is also irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake.
Widespread ignorance in the eBay community often results in the blind leading the blind. Fools take comfort in the very presence of other bidders. This offers them reassurance to place their own bids โ which, in turn, encourages more fools to pile in.
It is the lemming effect: Other eBayers showing interest will inevitably give a few people the misplaced confidence to dispense with the most basic due-diligence checks.
Because, surely, we as bidders can rely on the fact that at least one of the other bidders actually did do their homework, right?
5. I would encourage you to cancel your eBay sale for the Madonna paster.
Alternatively, send your winning bidder a link to this forum thread, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency. Then let them decide, on a better-informed basis, whether they really do wish to spend ยฃ1,950.00 plus shipping and proceed with the purchase.
The winning bidder may prefer to hold back unless and until the paster receives an official nod from the Brainwash camp.
Under the circumstances, this would be the rational approach for them to take. And the approach that an honest seller would typically want them to take โ for their mutual peace of mind.
It was disappointing to access this thread again today and find there was no further comment from Art Attackkk.
The above post by me pointed to multiple issues indicating why the Madonna paster can be comfortably deemed a counterfeit.
Two follow-ups about the multiple issues cited:
1. Each can be independently researched by interested parties (whether the seller or a potential buyer).
And for any good-faith seller, there exists a duty to put in the time and actually carry out the requisite research. Failure to do so, especially under the circumstances, is a dereliction of that seller's duty โ suggesting bad faith more so than laziness.
2. Each is also pretty damning in isolation. But when combined, their cumulative weight leaves no scope for reasonable doubt that we're in the presence of a fake.
__________
Good to see the eBay auction ending on 6 March 2023 did not complete, and that the winning bidder didn't get ripped off:
As with all of my serious posts on this message board, I do make an effort to ensure what I write is considered, accurate, non-misleading, and fair.
If any member believes I've stated anything here that falls below this standard, please feel free to challenge me on the matter.
My concern isn't to be right, but rather to get it right. So whenever I happen to fall short, I certainly want to know about it โ both for learning/correction purposes, and to decrease the likelihood of me repeating the same mistake(s) in the future.
Hi met, thanks for the question. I presume youโve only just seen this listing as there are only a few hours of the listing left now ๐
I bought four pasters (pasters, not posters as these were designed to be pasted up) from a gallery in the states. Two are signed, the other two unsigned. This was a few years ago, and sorry but I canโt now recall the name of the gallery, but they had many of mr bโs other works, plus other artists, many of which were high value, so I had no reason to question where they came from and assumed them to be genuine. It wasnโt signari gallery. I no longer have any receipts or other โproof of purchaseโ.
I donโt think you have contacted me via eBay with the same question, otherwise Iโd have answered your question via eBay. And as there have been issues with logging into UAA (separate thread regarding โserver not foundโ message), Iโve only just seen your message above. Hope that helps, but at the end of the day you can probably see from my other items for sale and feedback etc I have no reason to doubt this paster is genuine. The number of bids probably backs this up too. Good luck if you decide to place a last minute bid. ๐ค
Thank you for getting back to me.
1. Unfortunately, the Madonna paster you were selling or sold on eBay is a fake. And both to my mind and eyes, a pretty obvious fake.
1.1 If you reach out to Mr Brainwash's team, I am confident they will confirm the same.
1.2 It looks to me like the paster could be one of the many forgeries churned out by the Swedish failed-artist-cum-counterfeiter, Patrick Agler, a.k.a. Patrick Maske, a.k.a. Michael Kadaz, a.k.a. Robert Hilmersson.*
2. As a minor aside, I have zero interest in Mr Brainwash as an artist. Yet, as is the case with many other collectors, I do take an interest in โ and I'm rather militant about โ fake artworks being passed off as authentic.
One of the reasons I'm a member of this message board is to promote open dialogue and good-faith, public exchanges of information and viewpoints. That includes encouraging people to think twice before buying low-calibre art and, as a courtesy heads-up, pointing out cases of counterfeits when I occasionally spot them.
3. Notwithstanding what you've mentioned above, there were reasons to question where the pasters came from.
This was an opportunity to carry out your due diligence.
Simply assuming items to be genuine is tantamount to placing one's trust in superficial appearances, or even in faith. That is the antithesis of healthy scepticism, and of our personal responsibilities as art collectors.
3.1 Whether they're corrupt, recklessly negligent, or just shamefully ignorant/incompetent, dealers and auction houses trading in fakes tend to trade in authentic artworks as well. Their businesses wouldn't last very long otherwise.
3.2 Madonna pasters were created and put up in 2009, as part of the promotional campaign for the release of her greatest hits record, Celebration. The pasters varied in size, and a few notable ones were enormous. However, none of them were in the format of your item.
3.3 Many of the Madonna promo pasters were also hand-finished. But again, none like yours.
The thickness of the paint, along with the individualised effort and detail on yours, should have been a giveaway.
Hand-finished pasters for commercial marketing purposes are not made in such a manner. First, it's too time-consuming (i.e. not worth the effort for disposable pieces made in the dozens or hundreds that might, if lucky, last a week in the street). Second, any thick application of acrylic on pasters would hinder the paper's later absorption of wheatpaste โ thereby making those pasters less suitable for their intended purpose.
3.4 Some official Mr Brainwash Madonna posters were actually released in a similar format to your paster. If I were to guess, one of these posters was used by the counterfeiter to create a new screen from which the fake pasters were then produced.
There is a visible loss of quality in the fakes, and a couple of the more obvious tells are the unintended dark blotches on Madonna's chin and neck. These will have resulted from the reproduction screen having been poorly made (with possible tearing/damage to the cured photo emulsion). The same blotch patterns are visible on a separate counterfeit Madonna paster that was sold by Signari Gallery.
3.5 Notwithstanding minor variations over the years, the signature of Mr Brainwash has always been distinctive and recognisable.
Per contra, the signature on yours was clearly not of Brainwash's hand, and should normally have been a red flag. He just doesn't sign like that.
[If you'll pardon my candour, I suspected you might actually have questioned in your own mind the authenticity of the signature on your paster.
This could explain the absence in your eBay listing of a close-up photo of the signature, which is odd given its importance and impact on perceived financial value. It could also explain why the context shot with the signature is blurry (when all of your other listing photos are in focus).
However, I do appreciate this is speculation on my part, and arguably unfair. I've mentioned it mainly to help illustrate part of my thought process.]
4. Additional comments on your last post:
4.1 The authenticity status of your other items is irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake. Selling one or more legitimate pieces is hardly a guarantee that all the others will be legitimate as well.
4.2 The number of bids placed on your eBay auction is also irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake.
Widespread ignorance in the eBay community often results in the blind leading the blind. Fools take comfort in the very presence of other bidders. This offers them reassurance to place their own bids โ which, in turn, encourages more fools to pile in.
It is the lemming effect: Other eBayers showing interest will inevitably give a few people the misplaced confidence to dispense with the most basic due-diligence checks.
Because, surely, we as bidders can rely on the fact that at least one of the other bidders actually did do their homework, right?
5. I would encourage you to cancel your eBay sale for the Madonna paster.
Alternatively, send your winning bidder a link to this forum thread, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency. Then let them decide, on a better-informed basis, whether they really do wish to spend ยฃ1,950.00 plus shipping and proceed with the purchase.
The winning bidder may prefer to hold back unless and until the paster receives an official nod from the Brainwash camp.
Under the circumstances, this would be the rational approach for them to take. And the approach that an honest seller would typically want them to take โ for their mutual peace of mind.
It was disappointing to access this thread again today and find there was no further comment from Art Attackkk.
The above post by me pointed to multiple issues indicating why the Madonna paster can be comfortably deemed a counterfeit.
Two follow-ups about the multiple issues cited:
1. Each can be independently researched by interested parties (whether the seller or a potential buyer).
And for any good-faith seller, there exists a duty to put in the time and actually carry out the requisite research. Failure to do so, especially under the circumstances, is a dereliction of that seller's duty โ suggesting bad faith more so than laziness.
2. Each is also pretty damning in isolation. But when combined, their cumulative weight leaves no scope for reasonable doubt that we're in the presence of a fake.
__________
Good to see the eBay auction ending on 6 March 2023 did not complete, and that the winning bidder didn't get ripped off:
As with all of my serious posts on this message board, I do make an effort to ensure what I write is considered, accurate, non-misleading, and fair.
If any member believes I've stated anything here that falls below this standard, please feel free to challenge me on the matter.
My concern isn't to be right, but rather to get it right. So whenever I happen to fall short, I certainly want to know about it โ both for learning/correction purposes, and to decrease the likelihood of me repeating the same mistake(s) in the future.
Hi met, thanks for the question. I presume youโve only just seen this listing as there are only a few hours of the listing left now ๐
I bought four pasters (pasters, not posters as these were designed to be pasted up) from a gallery in the states. Two are signed, the other two unsigned. This was a few years ago, and sorry but I canโt now recall the name of the gallery, but they had many of mr bโs other works, plus other artists, many of which were high value, so I had no reason to question where they came from and assumed them to be genuine. It wasnโt signari gallery. I no longer have any receipts or other โproof of purchaseโ.
I donโt think you have contacted me via eBay with the same question, otherwise Iโd have answered your question via eBay. And as there have been issues with logging into UAA (separate thread regarding โserver not foundโ message), Iโve only just seen your message above. Hope that helps, but at the end of the day you can probably see from my other items for sale and feedback etc I have no reason to doubt this paster is genuine. The number of bids probably backs this up too. Good luck if you decide to place a last minute bid. ๐ค
Thank you for getting back to me.
1. Unfortunately, the Madonna paster you were selling or sold on eBay is a fake. And both to my mind and eyes, a pretty obvious fake.
1.1 If you reach out to Mr Brainwash's team, I am confident they will confirm the same.
1.2 It looks to me like the paster could be one of the many forgeries churned out by the Swedish failed-artist-cum-counterfeiter, Patrick Agler, a.k.a. Patrick Maske, a.k.a. Michael Kadaz, a.k.a. Robert Hilmersson.*
2. As a minor aside, I have zero interest in Mr Brainwash as an artist. Yet, as is the case with many other collectors, I do take an interest in โ and I'm rather militant about โ fake artworks being passed off as authentic.
One of the reasons I'm a member of this message board is to promote open dialogue and good-faith, public exchanges of information and viewpoints. That includes encouraging people to think twice before buying low-calibre art and, as a courtesy heads-up, pointing out cases of counterfeits when I occasionally spot them.
3. Notwithstanding what you've mentioned above, there were reasons to question where the pasters came from.
This was an opportunity to carry out your due diligence.
Simply assuming items to be genuine is tantamount to placing one's trust in superficial appearances, or even in faith. That is the antithesis of healthy scepticism, and of our personal responsibilities as art collectors.
3.1 Whether they're corrupt, recklessly negligent, or just shamefully ignorant/incompetent, dealers and auction houses trading in fakes tend to trade in authentic artworks as well. Their businesses wouldn't last very long otherwise.
3.2 Madonna pasters were created and put up in 2009, as part of the promotional campaign for the release of her greatest hits record, Celebration. The pasters varied in size, and a few notable ones were enormous. However, none of them were in the format of your item.
3.3 Many of the Madonna promo pasters were also hand-finished. But again, none like yours.
The thickness of the paint, along with the individualised effort and detail on yours, should have been a giveaway.
Hand-finished pasters for commercial marketing purposes are not made in such a manner. First, it's too time-consuming (i.e. not worth the effort for disposable pieces made in the dozens or hundreds that might, if lucky, last a week in the street). Second, any thick application of acrylic on pasters would hinder the paper's later absorption of wheatpaste โ thereby making those pasters less suitable for their intended purpose.
3.4 Some official Mr Brainwash Madonna posters were actually released in a similar format to your paster. If I were to guess, one of these posters was used by the counterfeiter to create a new screen from which the fake pasters were then produced.
There is a visible loss of quality in the fakes, and a couple of the more obvious tells are the unintended dark blotches on Madonna's chin and neck. These will have resulted from the reproduction screen having been poorly made (with possible tearing/damage to the cured photo emulsion). The same blotch patterns are visible on a separate counterfeit Madonna paster that was sold by Signari Gallery.
3.5 Notwithstanding minor variations over the years, the signature of Mr Brainwash has always been distinctive and recognisable.
Per contra, the signature on yours was clearly not of Brainwash's hand, and should normally have been a red flag. He just doesn't sign like that.
[If you'll pardon my candour, I suspected you might actually have questioned in your own mind the authenticity of the signature on your paster.
This could explain the absence in your eBay listing of a close-up photo of the signature, which is odd given its importance and impact on perceived financial value. It could also explain why the context shot with the signature is blurry (when all of your other listing photos are in focus).
However, I do appreciate this is speculation on my part, and arguably unfair. I've mentioned it mainly to help illustrate part of my thought process.]
4. Additional comments on your last post:
4.1 The authenticity status of your other items is irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake. Selling one or more legitimate pieces is hardly a guarantee that all the others will be legitimate as well.
4.2 The number of bids placed on your eBay auction is also irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake.
Widespread ignorance in the eBay community often results in the blind leading the blind. Fools take comfort in the very presence of other bidders. This offers them reassurance to place their own bids โ which, in turn, encourages more fools to pile in.
It is the lemming effect: Other eBayers showing interest will inevitably give a few people the misplaced confidence to dispense with the most basic due-diligence checks.
Because, surely, we as bidders can rely on the fact that at least one of the other bidders actually did do their homework, right?
5. I would encourage you to cancel your eBay sale for the Madonna paster.
Alternatively, send your winning bidder a link to this forum thread, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency. Then let them decide, on a better-informed basis, whether they really do wish to spend ยฃ1,950.00 plus shipping and proceed with the purchase.
The winning bidder may prefer to hold back unless and until the paster receives an official nod from the Brainwash camp.
Under the circumstances, this would be the rational approach for them to take. And the approach that an honest seller would typically want them to take โ for their mutual peace of mind.
Hi met, thanks for the question. I presume youโve only just seen this listing as there are only a few hours of the listing left now ๐
I bought four pasters (pasters, not posters as these were designed to be pasted up) from a gallery in the states. Two are signed, the other two unsigned. This was a few years ago, and sorry but I canโt now recall the name of the gallery, but they had many of mr bโs other works, plus other artists, many of which were high value, so I had no reason to question where they came from and assumed them to be genuine. It wasnโt signari gallery. I no longer have any receipts or other โproof of purchaseโ.
I donโt think you have contacted me via eBay with the same question, otherwise Iโd have answered your question via eBay. And as there have been issues with logging into UAA (separate thread regarding โserver not foundโ message), Iโve only just seen your message above. Hope that helps, but at the end of the day you can probably see from my other items for sale and feedback etc I have no reason to doubt this paster is genuine. The number of bids probably backs this up too. Good luck if you decide to place a last minute bid. ๐ค
Thank you for getting back to me.
1. Unfortunately, the Madonna paster you were selling or sold on eBay is a fake. And both to my mind and eyes, a pretty obvious fake.
1.1 If you reach out to Mr Brainwash's team, I am confident they will confirm the same.
1.2 It looks to me like the paster could be one of the many forgeries churned out by the Swedish failed-artist-cum-counterfeiter, Patrick Agler, a.k.a. Patrick Maske, a.k.a. Michael Kadaz, a.k.a. Robert Hilmersson.*
2. As a minor aside, I have zero interest in Mr Brainwash as an artist. Yet, as is the case with many other collectors, I do take an interest in โ and I'm rather militant about โ fake artworks being passed off as authentic.
One of the reasons I'm a member of this message board is to promote open dialogue and good-faith, public exchanges of information and viewpoints. That includes encouraging people to think twice before buying low-calibre art and, as a courtesy heads-up, pointing out cases of counterfeits when I occasionally spot them.
3. Notwithstanding what you've mentioned above, there were reasons to question where the pasters came from.
This was an opportunity to carry out your due diligence.
Simply assuming items to be genuine is tantamount to placing one's trust in superficial appearances, or even in faith. That is the antithesis of healthy scepticism, and of our personal responsibilities as art collectors.
3.1 Whether they're corrupt, recklessly negligent, or just shamefully ignorant/incompetent, dealers and auction houses trading in fakes tend to trade in authentic artworks as well. Their businesses wouldn't last very long otherwise.
3.2 Madonna pasters were created and put up in 2009, as part of the promotional campaign for the release of her greatest hits record, Celebration. The pasters varied in size, and a few notable ones were enormous. However, none of them were in the format of your item.
3.3 Many of the Madonna promo pasters were also hand-finished. But again, none like yours.
The thickness of the paint, along with the individualised effort and detail on yours, should have been a giveaway.
Hand-finished pasters for commercial marketing purposes are not made in such a manner. First, it's too time-consuming (i.e. not worth the effort for disposable pieces made in the dozens or hundreds that might, if lucky, last a week in the street). Second, any thick application of acrylic on pasters would hinder the paper's later absorption of wheatpaste โ thereby making those pasters less suitable for their intended purpose.
3.4 Some official Mr Brainwash Madonna posters were actually released in a similar format to your paster. If I were to guess, one of these posters was used by the counterfeiter to create a new screen from which the fake pasters were then produced.
There is a visible loss of quality in the fakes, and a couple of the more obvious tells are the unintended dark blotches on Madonna's chin and neck. These will have resulted from the reproduction screen having been poorly made (with possible tearing/damage to the cured photo emulsion). The same blotch patterns are visible on a separate counterfeit Madonna paster that was sold by Signari Gallery.
3.5 Notwithstanding minor variations over the years, the signature of Mr Brainwash has always been distinctive and recognisable.
Per contra, the signature on yours was clearly not of Brainwash's hand, and should normally have been a red flag. He just doesn't sign like that.
[If you'll pardon my candour, I suspected you might actually have questioned in your own mind the authenticity of the signature on your paster.
This could explain the absence in your eBay listing of a close-up photo of the signature, which is odd given its importance and impact on perceived financial value. It could also explain why the context shot with the signature is blurry (when all of your other listing photos are in focus).
However, I do appreciate this is speculation on my part, and arguably unfair. I've mentioned it mainly to help illustrate part of my thought process.]
4. Additional comments on your last post:
4.1 The authenticity status of your other items is irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake. Selling one or more legitimate pieces is hardly a guarantee that all the others will be legitimate as well.
4.2 The number of bids placed on your eBay auction is also irrelevant to the question of whether the Madonna paster is genuine or fake.
Widespread ignorance in the eBay community often results in the blind leading the blind. Fools take comfort in the very presence of other bidders. This offers them reassurance to place their own bids โ which, in turn, encourages more fools to pile in.
It is the lemming effect: Other eBayers showing interest will inevitably give a few people the misplaced confidence to dispense with the most basic due-diligence checks.
Because, surely, we as bidders can rely on the fact that at least one of the other bidders actually did do their homework, right?
5. I would encourage you to cancel your eBay sale for the Madonna paster.
Alternatively, send your winning bidder a link to this forum thread, in the interest of full disclosure and transparency. Then let them decide, on a better-informed basis, whether they really do wish to spend ยฃ1,950.00 plus shipping and proceed with the purchase.
The winning bidder may prefer to hold back unless and until the paster receives an official nod from the Brainwash camp.
Under the circumstances, this would be the rational approach for them to take. And the approach that an honest seller would typically want them to take โ for their mutual peace of mind.
Sunday bump own these as some of the 99p starting price listings end from tomorrow night (uk time), many still have very low bids, so you could grab a bargain. Any that havenโt got bids on PM me with any reasonable offers. Good luck
Some queries about one item you're selling, featuring the image of Madonna:
The eBay listing regrettably has zero provenance information in the description.
Could you confirm the full provenance of your signed paster?
It would be helpful to know:
(i) when you bought the paster;
(ii) from whom you bought it, and where the previous owner (whether an individual or business) was based; and
(iii) any other results of the due diligence checks you will have carried out, including details of how/where/when the previous owner claimed to have acquired the paster themselves.
It seems most unlikely to me that the item would have come directly from Mr Brainwash or from another official primary source.
Presumably, it was purchased somewhere on the secondary market โ maybe on a platform like eBay, Catawiki or LiveAuctioneers, or perhaps from a joke entity such as Signari Gallery in Las Vegas.
Sunday bump own these as some of the 99p starting price listings end from tomorrow night (uk time), many still have very low bids, so you could grab a bargain. Any that havenโt got bids on PM me with any reasonable offers. Good luck
Some queries about one item you're selling, featuring the image of Madonna:
The eBay listing regrettably has zero provenance information in the description.
Could you confirm the full provenance of your signed paster?
It would be helpful to know:
(i) when you bought the paster;
(ii) from whom you bought it, and where the previous owner (whether an individual or business) was based; and
(iii) any other results of the due diligence checks you will have carried out, including details of how/where/when the previous owner claimed to have acquired the paster themselves.
It seems most unlikely to me that the item would have come directly from Mr Brainwash or from another official primary source.
Presumably, it was purchased somewhere on the secondary market โ maybe on a platform like eBay, Catawiki or LiveAuctioneers, or perhaps from a joke entity such as Signari Gallery in Las Vegas.
Apologies Met I wasn't meaning to suggest they were expensive official prints from the estate - the price tag of ยฃ100 OBO as a charity donation for the pair when they are in large frames should have hopefully been a clue to anyone! Trev and myself both had a good look around to try to find their origins but struggled to turn up anything. I had wondered if they might be prints made for an exhibition of some kind back in the 80s. The paper they are printed on seems to be decent quality and it is more if someone thinks they look nice and like Bacon but are on a budget, they might be of some use.
Appreciate your comment though, if only to bump the thread which may improve chances of raising some money for charity. Cheers
No worries whatsoever. My post was simply an effort to try to prevent confusion in the minds of potential acquirers regarding what was on offer.
Whether high or low, the pricing of art isn't especially important to me. For collectors willing to put in the time and do the research, great art (or reproductions thereof) is always available โ and accessible, including to those with modest incomes.
However, what I do place a heavy importance on is the authenticity of works that are presented as legitimate.
When considering those prints of Bacon images, I'd have argued it wasn't necessary to look any further than the poorly-executed fake signatures.
He came across as a pleasant, enthusiastic chap on this message board. Yet his art knowledge had limitations which did place him at risk of being duped by scammers. And therefore at risk of being someone who might resell counterfeits to other collectors without even realising it.
One specific example that sticks in my mind is the fake Mr Brainwash image with a fake Andy Warhol signature โ and the attempt last year to sell that piece as an authentic Warhol.*
What this emphasises is that, even if we as collectors are dealing with a seller we know to be honest, we can still remain vulnerable if that seller is oblivious of the fact they themselves may have been victim to a previous (unscrupulous) seller in the chain of ownership for a particular item.
A reseller's integrity alone thus has limited value as a safeguard against fraud, unless also accompanied by a suitable level of relevant awareness or expertise.
Apologies Met I wasn't meaning to suggest they were expensive official prints from the estate - the price tag of ยฃ100 OBO as a charity donation for the pair when they are in large frames should have hopefully been a clue to anyone! Trev and myself both had a good look around to try to find their origins but struggled to turn up anything. I had wondered if they might be prints made for an exhibition of some kind back in the 80s. The paper they are printed on seems to be decent quality and it is more if someone thinks they look nice and like Bacon but are on a budget, they might be of some use.
Appreciate your comment though, if only to bump the thread which may improve chances of raising some money for charity. Cheers
No worries whatsoever. My post was simply an effort to try to prevent confusion in the minds of potential acquirers regarding what was on offer.
Whether high or low, the pricing of art isn't especially important to me. For collectors willing to put in the time and do the research, great art (or reproductions thereof) is always available โ and accessible, including to those with modest incomes.
However, what I do place a heavy importance on is the authenticity of works that are presented as legitimate.
When considering those prints of Bacon images, I'd have argued it wasn't necessary to look any further than the poorly-executed fake signatures.
He came across as a pleasant, enthusiastic chap on this message board. Yet his art knowledge had limitations which did place him at risk of being duped by scammers. And therefore at risk of being someone who might resell counterfeits to other collectors without even realising it.
One specific example that sticks in my mind is the fake Mr Brainwash image with a fake Andy Warhol signature โ and the attempt last year to sell that piece as an authentic Warhol.*
What this emphasises is that, even if we as collectors are dealing with a seller we know to be honest, we can still remain vulnerable if that seller is oblivious of the fact they themselves may have been victim to a previous (unscrupulous) seller in the chain of ownership for a particular item.
A reseller's integrity alone thus has limited value as a safeguard against fraud, unless also accompanied by a suitable level of relevant awareness or expertise.
We moved house about 9 months ago and so I have finally got around clearing some art stuff out. I need to make some space more than anything and so hopefully this will be useful to someone. The first items I obtained from the wonderful Trevor M who is sadly no longer with us. Thread about him started by Pidge here with some lovely anecdotes;
My first meeting with Trev which ended up starting a friendship lasting a few years was when he kindly replied to something I had posted on the forum about being a big Francis Bacon fan. He had some framed prints which had come his way as part of a big deal involving multiple prints (this is a classic Trev type deal, probably involving many prints, tea, biscuits and months of chat). Anyway he said he didn't need them so I went and picked them up and we chatted for an hour or so and continued to do so for years, with deals every so often.
He was happy to give away the prints but I managed to persuade him to take ยฃ100 on the day I recall and his only proviso was I was taking them to display which I did.
Now if anyone wants them I would ask for ยฃ100 OBO to Cancer Research UK and they can be picked up from London E17 or we can work out a way to deliver in London.
Prints are 28 x 38cm and are in frames they came in, although one has slipped and will need re-floating. IMHO they would look better in smaller thicker frames anyway. Frame size 52 x 63cm. They are signed in plate and have a stamp of some kind and would make a nice pair on a wall for a Bacon fan.
Few other bits listed below with suggested fees, all would need to be collected and money to Cancer Research UK. I can send more pics to anyone interested.
N's Yard Yoshimoto Nara posters (framed up as prints by some) Still in tubes Midnight truth Dead Of Night These are about ยฃ12 a pop on the website but then you have to import them and pay postage and tax and stuff. Maybe someone would want these for ยฃ25 OBO each for charity.
Dave Towers - YES Canvas Got this from BSMT in lockdown and was a nice positive message to have on the wall in the flat but won't be making the walls in the new place. Few marks here and there but plenty of life in it yet I think. Cost ยฃ350, size 76 x 53cm maybe someone will fancy it for ยฃ150OBO charity donation.
That's it for now, depending on success of failure may put some more stuff on here later. Easiest way to pay may be to put the money on Pidge's original charity page for Trev if he doesn't mind.
Just for the avoidance of doubt, in case it isn't clear to any novice enthusiast on this message board, the above prints of Francis Bacon images are obvious counterfeits.
They should not be mistaken for legitimate releases by the artist or his estate.
We moved house about 9 months ago and so I have finally got around clearing some art stuff out. I need to make some space more than anything and so hopefully this will be useful to someone. The first items I obtained from the wonderful Trevor M who is sadly no longer with us. Thread about him started by Pidge here with some lovely anecdotes;
My first meeting with Trev which ended up starting a friendship lasting a few years was when he kindly replied to something I had posted on the forum about being a big Francis Bacon fan. He had some framed prints which had come his way as part of a big deal involving multiple prints (this is a classic Trev type deal, probably involving many prints, tea, biscuits and months of chat). Anyway he said he didn't need them so I went and picked them up and we chatted for an hour or so and continued to do so for years, with deals every so often.
He was happy to give away the prints but I managed to persuade him to take ยฃ100 on the day I recall and his only proviso was I was taking them to display which I did.
Now if anyone wants them I would ask for ยฃ100 OBO to Cancer Research UK and they can be picked up from London E17 or we can work out a way to deliver in London.
Prints are 28 x 38cm and are in frames they came in, although one has slipped and will need re-floating. IMHO they would look better in smaller thicker frames anyway. Frame size 52 x 63cm. They are signed in plate and have a stamp of some kind and would make a nice pair on a wall for a Bacon fan.
Few other bits listed below with suggested fees, all would need to be collected and money to Cancer Research UK. I can send more pics to anyone interested.
N's Yard Yoshimoto Nara posters (framed up as prints by some) Still in tubes Midnight truth Dead Of Night These are about ยฃ12 a pop on the website but then you have to import them and pay postage and tax and stuff. Maybe someone would want these for ยฃ25 OBO each for charity.
Dave Towers - YES Canvas Got this from BSMT in lockdown and was a nice positive message to have on the wall in the flat but won't be making the walls in the new place. Few marks here and there but plenty of life in it yet I think. Cost ยฃ350, size 76 x 53cm maybe someone will fancy it for ยฃ150OBO charity donation.
That's it for now, depending on success of failure may put some more stuff on here later. Easiest way to pay may be to put the money on Pidge's original charity page for Trev if he doesn't mind.
Just for the avoidance of doubt, in case it isn't clear to any novice enthusiast on this message board, the above prints of Francis Bacon images are obvious counterfeits.
They should not be mistaken for legitimate releases by the artist or his estate.
Our timed release with Yu Nagaba is about to kick off! The print will be available for 24hr starting at 09.00GMT today. Orders placed within the first hour of release are entered into a draw to win one of three free frames.
Fishbowl is a silkscreen print featuring two different blacks and a vibrant red on Somerset paper. Every print is individually signed by the artist.
In his signature linear style Yu Nagaba uses a goldfish and floral motifs to pay homage to Matisse. Each print features a red ACE Hotel stamp. The stamp is a calling card seen throughout the artistโs practice. It calls to Nagabaโs childhood memories of his fatherโs travels and the simple mementos heโd return with, and more recently to an imagined alter ego who travels the world leaving cryptic sketches on hotel notepads.
Bearing in mind the photo is also being used for marketing purposes, and therefore intended to represent an ideal, it does beg the question: What is going on in these people's heads โ and what's with the imposed solitary confinement?
Goldfish benefit from interaction and companionship. They are more lively and active when paired or grouped. At the very least, the little fella deserves a buddy, does he not?
And how about a freshwater plant? You know, just for a modicum of visual and sensory stimulation for the pet. Presumably, this wouldn't be considered a big ask.
Our timed release with Yu Nagaba is about to kick off! The print will be available for 24hr starting at 09.00GMT today. Orders placed within the first hour of release are entered into a draw to win one of three free frames.
Fishbowl is a silkscreen print featuring two different blacks and a vibrant red on Somerset paper. Every print is individually signed by the artist.
In his signature linear style Yu Nagaba uses a goldfish and floral motifs to pay homage to Matisse. Each print features a red ACE Hotel stamp. The stamp is a calling card seen throughout the artistโs practice. It calls to Nagabaโs childhood memories of his fatherโs travels and the simple mementos heโd return with, and more recently to an imagined alter ego who travels the world leaving cryptic sketches on hotel notepads.
Bearing in mind the photo is also being used for marketing purposes, and therefore intended to represent an ideal, it does beg the question: What is going on in these people's heads โ and what's with the imposed solitary confinement?
Goldfish benefit from interaction and companionship. They are more lively and active when paired or grouped. At the very least, the little fella deserves a buddy, does he not?
And how about a freshwater plant? You know, just for a modicum of visual and sensory stimulation for the pet. Presumably, this wouldn't be considered a big ask.
It seems to me CharityStars long-ago sorted everything out already.
I put it to you that this business enterprise knows exactly what it is doing.
And by "charity", are you talking about the 5% of the hammer price, purportedly being passed on to some unknown beneficiary?
This, after the business deducts its own fees, being "on average between a 9-15% rate on the final hammer price" โ plus "2-4% flat rate for payment processing fees", VAT, and unquantified so-called "Third party costs"?*
It seems to me CharityStars long-ago sorted everything out already.
I put it to you that this business enterprise knows exactly what it is doing.
And by "charity", are you talking about the 5% of the hammer price, purportedly being passed on to some unknown beneficiary?
This, after the business deducts its own fees, being "on average between a 9-15% rate on the final hammer price" โ plus "2-4% flat rate for payment processing fees", VAT, and unquantified so-called "Third party costs"?*
Hey there! I'm visiting London next weekend and I'm wondering if there are any other art shows besides Saatchi that are worth checking out. Got any tips on what I should see while I'm there?
My general sense is that street-art or urban-art enthusiasts often overlook or too-quickly dismiss many of the basics of the art historical canon.
For some, this may in part be down to fear or ambivalence of the unknown or the less familiar, or a certain degree of narrow-mindedness โ which can require constant efforts on our part to at least keep in check. And such efforts are not just worthwhile, they are arguably noble. They broaden our field of vision.
Art-wise, London is a treasure trove. It has phenomenal institutions that are free to visit, many of which offer audio guides/apps for context and background on periods, movements, artists or individual works.
One could easily spend a full week exploring the British Museum, for example, or half an afternoon checking out the permanent collection at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House.
In case you have yet to visit the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square (or haven't done so for a few years), consider that museum a must-see. It is currently undergoing renovations, but remains open to the public and should in my view be prioritised over the majority of temporary exhibitions at contemporary art galleries.
For an accessible and easily-manageable partial visit, consider the 18th and 19th century works on Level 2.
My recommendation would be Room 34, if only to see the real-life scale of Whistlejacket. And the adjoining Rooms 41 (especially for Surprised! by Rousseau); 43 (including for Bathers at Asniรจres by Seurat, and one of the Sunflowers canvases); and 44 (Cรฉzanne, Degas, Manet, Monet and more).
A large-scale painting I've recently kept coming back to is in Room 45: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche.
Hey there! I'm visiting London next weekend and I'm wondering if there are any other art shows besides Saatchi that are worth checking out. Got any tips on what I should see while I'm there?
My general sense is that street-art or urban-art enthusiasts often overlook or too-quickly dismiss many of the basics of the art historical canon.
For some, this may in part be down to fear or ambivalence of the unknown or the less familiar, or a certain degree of narrow-mindedness โ which can require constant efforts on our part to at least keep in check. And such efforts are not just worthwhile, they are arguably noble. They broaden our field of vision.
Art-wise, London is a treasure trove. It has phenomenal institutions that are free to visit, many of which offer audio guides/apps for context and background on periods, movements, artists or individual works.
One could easily spend a full week exploring the British Museum, for example, or half an afternoon checking out the permanent collection at the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House.
In case you have yet to visit the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square (or haven't done so for a few years), consider that museum a must-see. It is currently undergoing renovations, but remains open to the public and should in my view be prioritised over the majority of temporary exhibitions at contemporary art galleries.
For an accessible and easily-manageable partial visit, consider the 18th and 19th century works on Level 2.
My recommendation would be Room 34, if only to see the real-life scale of Whistlejacket. And the adjoining Rooms 41 (especially for Surprised! by Rousseau); 43 (including for Bathers at Asniรจres by Seurat, and one of the Sunflowers canvases); and 44 (Cรฉzanne, Degas, Manet, Monet and more).
A large-scale painting I've recently kept coming back to is in Room 45: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche.
Iโm going to hang mine. I think. I thought about printing off a few well known Banksy works and framing them. Putting them all on the lounge room wall with the original and telling everyone theyโre โonly printsโ. After I install a dehumidifier ๐คทโโ๏ธ.
Wow 9 prints, congrats. anyway..strange to see you here as โnew memberโ , seems youโre a old Banksy collector ๐
I just got them printed at the photo shop and framed and hung them yesterday. ยฃ100 worth of printing and cheap frames. Looks great! The original frAGILE sits amongst them. Camouflaged.
In case you weren't aware, the chimpanzee with headphones is not a Banksy image.
This, despite the fact it is frequently misattributed to the artist, whether cluelessly or (perhaps more often) dishonestly โ the latter especially by commercial enterprises, when such disinformation will likely lead to:
(i) a much higher number of search-engine hits; and
(ii) substantially increased sales of random canvases, posters, wall stickers, t‑shirts, phone covers, or cushions.
Iโm going to hang mine. I think. I thought about printing off a few well known Banksy works and framing them. Putting them all on the lounge room wall with the original and telling everyone theyโre โonly printsโ. After I install a dehumidifier ๐คทโโ๏ธ.
Wow 9 prints, congrats. anyway..strange to see you here as โnew memberโ , seems youโre a old Banksy collector ๐
I just got them printed at the photo shop and framed and hung them yesterday. ยฃ100 worth of printing and cheap frames. Looks great! The original frAGILE sits amongst them. Camouflaged.
In case you weren't aware, the chimpanzee with headphones is not a Banksy image.
This, despite the fact it is frequently misattributed to the artist, whether cluelessly or (perhaps more often) dishonestly โ the latter especially by commercial enterprises, when such disinformation will likely lead to:
(i) a much higher number of search-engine hits; and
(ii) substantially increased sales of random canvases, posters, wall stickers, t‑shirts, phone covers, or cushions.
Seems still maybe not sure definitively who they are or if there is any additional info on either that is bankable, but thank you for the replies and comments!
Just for the avoidance of doubt, the piece in your first image is not street art, and never existed as an outdoor painting.
It is simply a digital creation intended to look like a work of street art.
Seems still maybe not sure definitively who they are or if there is any additional info on either that is bankable, but thank you for the replies and comments!
Just for the avoidance of doubt, the piece in your first image is not street art, and never existed as an outdoor painting.
It is simply a digital creation intended to look like a work of street art.
OK, so I am back from the opening. So the show is great. Word.
Yes second that, amazing show and great effort. Well worth a visit. Paul Insect originals were the stand out pieces for me but so much other great art on show there. Well worth a visit
Some BAST inspiration in a couple of these
In my view, those two canvases are not so much Bรคst-inspired, but rather express Bรคst tributes.
OK, so I am back from the opening. So the show is great. Word.
Yes second that, amazing show and great effort. Well worth a visit. Paul Insect originals were the stand out pieces for me but so much other great art on show there. Well worth a visit
Some BAST inspiration in a couple of these
In my view, those two canvases are not so much Bรคst-inspired, but rather express Bรคst tributes.
Is anybody able to share any info with me regarding who the street artists are who actually did these works? Names? Website? Instagram?
Thank you!
The first is unlikely to have been created by a street artist.
It is possibly by a graphic designer. Or somebody else with Photoshop skills, working from their laptop and using a jpeg picture of a wall as their substrate.
The creator of the second is unknown.
Given the roughness of execution, it was probably done by an amateur, maybe as a one-off. Based on the style, presumably they are/were a fan of Banksy, whom the stencil piece is frequently misattributed to.
According to Street Art Utopia*, which first posted images in February 2013, the painting is from somewhere in Germany. And the "Danke" text to the right would support that assertion.
Is anybody able to share any info with me regarding who the street artists are who actually did these works? Names? Website? Instagram?
Thank you!
The first is unlikely to have been created by a street artist.
It is possibly by a graphic designer. Or somebody else with Photoshop skills, working from their laptop and using a jpeg picture of a wall as their substrate.
The creator of the second is unknown.
Given the roughness of execution, it was probably done by an amateur, maybe as a one-off. Based on the style, presumably they are/were a fan of Banksy, whom the stencil piece is frequently misattributed to.
According to Street Art Utopia*, which first posted images in February 2013, the painting is from somewhere in Germany. And the "Danke" text to the right would support that assertion.
To potential buyers, I would advise exercising caution before moving forward with any acquisition of Faile Tower pieces.
The Tower was part of the Bedtime Stories solo show in 2010*, held at the New York gallery of the disgraced, convicted and now-dead Perry Rubenstein.
Without the approval or consent of the artists, the original purchaser took it upon himself to dismantle the Tower and re-sell some of its components individually.
As far as I'm aware, Faile continue to refuse to recognise the separated pieces as Faile artworks. And rightly so in my view because, for the artists themselves, those pieces were part of and sold as a whole โ they were never intended to be standalone.
Adding to the unseemliness is the fact that one or more owners of separated Tower pieces were apparently dishonest (including through omission) about the non-recognised status of those pieces when they subsequently tried to offload them onto other buyers.
Within the Faile market, it is fair to say these Tower pieces are therefore viewed by many as tainted.
No informed, reputable dealer, gallery or auction house would touch these. And to the extent they may be uninformed, this would immediately call into question their due diligence procedures and general competence.
Some further comments can be read in the thread, PSA: Faile Works on Wood from the Faile Tower, started by WOOF on 25 June 2019.
To potential buyers, I would advise exercising caution before moving forward with any acquisition of Faile Tower pieces.
The Tower was part of the Bedtime Stories solo show in 2010*, held at the New York gallery of the disgraced, convicted and now-dead Perry Rubenstein.
Without the approval or consent of the artists, the original purchaser took it upon himself to dismantle the Tower and re-sell some of its components individually.
As far as I'm aware, Faile continue to refuse to recognise the separated pieces as Faile artworks. And rightly so in my view because, for the artists themselves, those pieces were part of and sold as a whole โ they were never intended to be standalone.
Adding to the unseemliness is the fact that one or more owners of separated Tower pieces were apparently dishonest (including through omission) about the non-recognised status of those pieces when they subsequently tried to offload them onto other buyers.
Within the Faile market, it is fair to say these Tower pieces are therefore viewed by many as tainted.
No informed, reputable dealer, gallery or auction house would touch these. And to the extent they may be uninformed, this would immediately call into question their due diligence procedures and general competence.
Some further comments can be read in the thread, PSA: Faile Works on Wood from the Faile Tower, started by WOOF on 25 June 2019.
Provided it's still there tomorrow, I'd be most grateful if you could check for me the brand/manufacturer of the freezer.
Whirlpool
Cheers for the confirmation. Much appreciated.
The fact you were able to recognise the manufacturer, based only on photos of the back of the freezer, was also impressive. I would describe that kind of knowledge as esoteric.
Provided it's still there tomorrow, I'd be most grateful if you could check for me the brand/manufacturer of the freezer.
Whirlpool
Cheers for the confirmation. Much appreciated.
The fact you were able to recognise the manufacturer, based only on photos of the back of the freezer, was also impressive. I would describe that kind of knowledge as esoteric.
Charity stars looks like a scam site essentially. Very overpriced tat, non of which would come with a genuine PC COA. Looking at their conditions they say no refund or returns. You could try a charge back through credit card company for items being falsely represented but donโt like your chances, sorry
Suggesting jeanmichel contact their credit or debit card issuer is sound advice. That is the first phone call I would make in such circumstances.
By way of side note, your post is also an impressive exercise in patience and restraint.
But if they are selling fakes then itโs false advertising!!
Very good. Classic.
But just so that I'm 100% clear, that is faux outrage for humorous effect, right?
Because, if not, do think it through. False advertising will be very low down the list of concerns of anyone operating a scam site.
Perhaps you were unduly influenced by the word "Charity" in this entity's name.
If I were a fraudster working from my bedroom, I too would incorporate "charity", "foundation" or "gallery" into my business name. They all sound pretty credible, which of course is their intended purpose.
And in correspondence, I might even be tempted to include references to my official title โ whether that be "Dr.", "Rev." or "The Right Honourable".
Charity stars looks like a scam site essentially. Very overpriced tat, non of which would come with a genuine PC COA. Looking at their conditions they say no refund or returns. You could try a charge back through credit card company for items being falsely represented but donโt like your chances, sorry
Suggesting jeanmichel contact their credit or debit card issuer is sound advice. That is the first phone call I would make in such circumstances.
By way of side note, your post is also an impressive exercise in patience and restraint.
But if they are selling fakes then itโs false advertising!!
Very good. Classic.
But just so that I'm 100% clear, that is faux outrage for humorous effect, right?
Because, if not, do think it through. False advertising will be very low down the list of concerns of anyone operating a scam site.
Perhaps you were unduly influenced by the word "Charity" in this entity's name.
If I were a fraudster working from my bedroom, I too would incorporate "charity", "foundation" or "gallery" into my business name. They all sound pretty credible, which of course is their intended purpose.
And in correspondence, I might even be tempted to include references to my official title โ whether that be "Dr.", "Rev." or "The Right Honourable".
I'd be very interested to hear your reasons for the "no".
For me, everything about this new piece screams "Banksy":
- technical execution and style (including stencil-cutting style, shading technique, and colour palette);
- mixture of stencil and freehand elements;
- attention to detail (e.g. the frill of the apron);
- subject matter;
- dark humour and overall tone (including the vintage/nostalgia aspect); and
- site specificity and incorporation of external elements (in this instance, street refuse).
If your assessment was serious, and you are confident enough in your position to place a ยฃ10 wager, I will offer you 20/1 odds that the work will at some point be officially confirmed as a Banksy.
I'd be very interested to hear your reasons for the "no".
For me, everything about this new piece screams "Banksy":
- technical execution and style (including stencil-cutting style, shading technique, and colour palette);
- mixture of stencil and freehand elements;
- attention to detail (e.g. the frill of the apron);
- subject matter;
- dark humour and overall tone (including the vintage/nostalgia aspect); and
- site specificity and incorporation of external elements (in this instance, street refuse).
If your assessment was serious, and you are confident enough in your position to place a ยฃ10 wager, I will offer you 20/1 odds that the work will at some point be officially confirmed as a Banksy.
I would usually agree however it wasnโt my choice to split them - I sold the original a while back and when I offered to post the coa the buyer wasnโt interested.
Cheers for the helpful clarification.
I don't really understand the mindset of anyone who would purchase an original Bรคst, and yet (when offered) would still choose to decline that artwork's corresponding COA โ especially a handmade COA produced by and coming from the artist himself.
Such a decision by a collector seems almost insane to me.
I would usually agree however it wasnโt my choice to split them - I sold the original a while back and when I offered to post the coa the buyer wasnโt interested.
Cheers for the helpful clarification.
I don't really understand the mindset of anyone who would purchase an original Bรคst, and yet (when offered) would still choose to decline that artwork's corresponding COA โ especially a handmade COA produced by and coming from the artist himself.
Such a decision by a collector seems almost insane to me.
So, how do we turn this in to the Glasgow Children's Hospital 33rpm Art Auction?
An amazing design company called Contagious in Edinburgh has donated me 250 blank vinyl album covers.
I now have 193 artists signed up and each one of them will be sent a blank album cover in order for them to create an original art work. This means that every 31 x 31 cm cover will be a unique work of art.
I am SUPER excited by this concept and can't wait to see that art works as they start to arrive. I look forward to being able to share these with you as and when they touch down.
Sounds promising.
Like blank postcards, the idea of blank LP covers as a starting point is simple and straightforward.
The consistency of format and dimensions has its own appeal โ conceptually, but also for practical reasons.
It will allow for a display of the finished artworks to be done easily and cheaply. [Or at least in most cases, since a few artists may choose to physically alter the shape and size of their album-cover substrate.]
With covers typically measuring 31.43 x 31.43 cm, IKEA's LOMVIKEN frame becomes suitable, for just ยฃ10 apiece. Take out the mount, and the internal dimensions are 32 x 32 cm:
If awarded such a task as an artist, my own idea would be to insert one of my favourite records into the sleeve and then come up with an alternative cover design for that album.
So, how do we turn this in to the Glasgow Children's Hospital 33rpm Art Auction?
An amazing design company called Contagious in Edinburgh has donated me 250 blank vinyl album covers.
I now have 193 artists signed up and each one of them will be sent a blank album cover in order for them to create an original art work. This means that every 31 x 31 cm cover will be a unique work of art.
I am SUPER excited by this concept and can't wait to see that art works as they start to arrive. I look forward to being able to share these with you as and when they touch down.
Sounds promising.
Like blank postcards, the idea of blank LP covers as a starting point is simple and straightforward.
The consistency of format and dimensions has its own appeal โ conceptually, but also for practical reasons.
It will allow for a display of the finished artworks to be done easily and cheaply. [Or at least in most cases, since a few artists may choose to physically alter the shape and size of their album-cover substrate.]
With covers typically measuring 31.43 x 31.43 cm, IKEA's LOMVIKEN frame becomes suitable, for just ยฃ10 apiece. Take out the mount, and the internal dimensions are 32 x 32 cm:
If awarded such a task as an artist, my own idea would be to insert one of my favourite records into the sleeve and then come up with an alternative cover design for that album.
I bought an original artwork direct from Bast in 2008 and the COA he sent me was actually a small original painting on card, with the COA details on the back.
It's a pretty wild image, with thick splodges of paint, Bast's classic distorted eyes hand-drawn in crayon in one corner, and an embossed backwards Bast stamp in the other.
I'm thinking of selling it, but I'm not sure how much it's worth - any suggestions?
Those eyes are in oil stick, I suspect, rather than crayon.
__________
My suggestion would be to ensure:
(a) the Bรคst original artwork; and (b) its accompanying COA direct from the artist
are never divided in their ownership.
The idea of splitting the two, by separately selling the certificate of authenticity, seems poorly considered and misguided at best.
I bought an original artwork direct from Bast in 2008 and the COA he sent me was actually a small original painting on card, with the COA details on the back.
It's a pretty wild image, with thick splodges of paint, Bast's classic distorted eyes hand-drawn in crayon in one corner, and an embossed backwards Bast stamp in the other.
I'm thinking of selling it, but I'm not sure how much it's worth - any suggestions?
Those eyes are in oil stick, I suspect, rather than crayon.
__________
My suggestion would be to ensure:
(a) the Bรคst original artwork; and (b) its accompanying COA direct from the artist
are never divided in their ownership.
The idea of splitting the two, by separately selling the certificate of authenticity, seems poorly considered and misguided at best.
Looks like I made a wise choice spending 1.7 Euro on this postcard instead.
Your minimalist decor makes the place look like a contemporary art gallery.
Nicely done as well with the "postcard" reference, which gave me a good chuckle. The art of understatement has always been one of life's small pleasures.
As for the Rubik's Cube, I wasn't even aware they existed on that scale. I'm guessing it must be close to 1 mยณ in size (assuming your ceiling height is around the UK national average).
Looks like I made a wise choice spending 1.7 Euro on this postcard instead.
Your minimalist decor makes the place look like a contemporary art gallery.
Nicely done as well with the "postcard" reference, which gave me a good chuckle. The art of understatement has always been one of life's small pleasures.
As for the Rubik's Cube, I wasn't even aware they existed on that scale. I'm guessing it must be close to 1 mยณ in size (assuming your ceiling height is around the UK national average).
Interesting viewpoint Simple question Do you know, beyond any doubt, that mason storm news not part of the team of painters that banksy employed to paint the more technically challenging pieces from his portfolio?
First, it's important for me to acknowledge your tone of calm, which is appreciated. In part for its relative rarity.
What I've found over the years is that sellers on this platform rather often get emotional over the For Sale threads they initiate. They can even get territorial, frequently making silly references to "my thread" โ specifically when any comments by fellow members take a critical turn.
This is unfortunate; hysterical or defensive replies almost invariably result in a loss of social esteem for the authors.
It is therefore refreshing whenever a seller responds with a coolness of composure.
__________
Now, to your question (with bold font added by me to emphasise your particular choice of words):
Do you know, beyond any doubt, that mason storm news not part of the team of painters that banksy employed to paint the more technically challenging pieces from his portfolio?
SHORT ANSWER
I do not know. Nor do I believe the statement to be true beyond any doubt:
(a) Knowledge-wise, I haven't the requisite insider knowledge of the facts.
(b) Belief-wise, I haven't the requisite evidence to claim there is zero doubt whatsoever.
FULLER, QUALIFIED ANSWER
On the belief front, what I am comfortable stating is that the publicly-available evidence in support of my position would meet the UK criminal law standard of proof.
The evidence is in my view sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mason Storm had no professional tie with Banksy and was in no way involved with the painting of Question Time in or around 2009.
What does this actually mean regarding my level of certainty?
Here are different betting scenarios for illustration purposes:
1. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, I will shoot somebody you love in the head, right in front of you."
I would decline to accept that bet.
Because I do not know the facts. And the consequences of getting things wrong seem disproportionately severe, when compared to the potential upside of the ยฃ10 I could spend on a tub of Haribo Tangfastics (400g version only, not the 1kg party tub which costs about twice as much).
2. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, you have to live the rest of this month of February without gas or electricity in your home."
[In other words, no heating, no working refrigerator or stove, no washing machine for cleaning clothes, no hot water for bathing, no lights on at night, no laptop recharging, etc.]
I would happily accept that bet, confident it would lead to me becoming a tenner wealthier.
Because the quantum of evidence is such that, if this were a criminal trial, certain facts could be said to exist (or to not exist). And such evidence, which I consider nearly impossible to refute in good faith, is the basis of my own belief.
3. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, you owe me ยฃ1,000. The odds we're playing for are 100/1 in my favour."
Once again, I would happily accept that bet.
__________
During an exchange with @castlegalleryltd in November last year, I made the following comments in the Who is Mason Storm ? ? ? thread*:
It may necessitate a few months but, at some point in the future, I'll do a lengthy case study on the charlatan that is Mason Storm.
This will include a straightforward and hopefully bulletproof explanation as to why, objectively, it is ridiculous to believe Storm has any direct connection with Banksy or had anything whatsoever to do with the painting of Question Time / Monkey Parliament / Devolved Parliament.
Sorry to put the matter annoyingly on hold for the time being.
It is one that requires the collating of persuasive evidence. As well as a proper, thoughtful response. And thinking now takes me far longer than it used to.
The substance and structure of this case study continues to slowly take shape in my brain.
It will end up being an exceptionally long post, even by my own standards. The priority is to be fair as well as comprehensive, clinical, clear and non-misleading.
There will probably be two main arguments, based on evidence (including visual evidence) and simple reasoning. Each argument, individually, is to my mind convincing and conclusive in itself, without having to rely on the other as backup.
Now admittedly, I do feel a bit resentful about the time and effort I'll have to invest, especially for an artist whose work I have such little interest in or respect for. But I see this task as a duty to fellow art enthusiasts, even if it amounts to just spelling out what should already be obvious to anyone paying attention.
Mason Storm collectors have in my opinion been treated as and taken for fools. Both by Storm and by Stowe Gallery.
To any owners of Storm's work, I would advise them to dump it.
To any potential collectors of his work, my advice would be to keep well away.
When posting, it is the interests of the latter that I choose to prioritise over the former.
Encouraging those who are sitting on the fence to think things fully through and avoid making purchase mistakes feels honourable to me. Much more so than encouraging existing owners to offload their purchase mistakes onto innocent dupes.
__________
Although my case study is still in works, consider reaching out in the meantime to Stowe Gallery. Presumably, that's where you bought your own prints.
If, in a moment of madness, I had acquired anything by Storm, I would certainly be asking the gallery a similar, simple question to the one you asked me, but conversely:
It's been suggested many times, including by Mason Storm himself, that he was hired by Banksy or Banksy's team in or around 2009 to assist with the painting of the original Question Time (now known as Devolved Parliament).
Please could you elaborate on whether there is any truth to those stories.
Such a query is an obvious one, especially since Storm's entire career hinges so heavily on a purported Banksy connection. And since it is also a fair question, it would be completely reasonable for any customer to expect a straight answer from the business that pocketed their money.
Pick up the telephone during business hours, ring Stowe Gallery, and see what they say.
It is one thing to allow (and even encourage) commercially-convenient fake rumours to circulate. But to blatantly lie when speaking with a customer is quite a different level of deception. At least for non-sociopaths, lying so directly would be more uncomfortable.
And so, after asking the question about whether any employment or commission link does exist between Storm and Banksy, what I imagine you'd get at the other end of the line is a bit of stuttering at first.
Perhaps there would then be a faux-humorous "Can't help you there. That's way above my pay grade!" or "Oohโฆ If I told you, I'd have to kill you afterwards!". Or some other type of disingenuous non-reply and evasiveness โ no doubt followed by an awkward attempt to change the subject.
Please give us an update in case you do decide to call the gallery.
Interesting viewpoint Simple question Do you know, beyond any doubt, that mason storm news not part of the team of painters that banksy employed to paint the more technically challenging pieces from his portfolio?
First, it's important for me to acknowledge your tone of calm, which is appreciated. In part for its relative rarity.
What I've found over the years is that sellers on this platform rather often get emotional over the For Sale threads they initiate. They can even get territorial, frequently making silly references to "my thread" โ specifically when any comments by fellow members take a critical turn.
This is unfortunate; hysterical or defensive replies almost invariably result in a loss of social esteem for the authors.
It is therefore refreshing whenever a seller responds with a coolness of composure.
__________
Now, to your question (with bold font added by me to emphasise your particular choice of words):
Do you know, beyond any doubt, that mason storm news not part of the team of painters that banksy employed to paint the more technically challenging pieces from his portfolio?
SHORT ANSWER
I do not know. Nor do I believe the statement to be true beyond any doubt:
(a) Knowledge-wise, I haven't the requisite insider knowledge of the facts.
(b) Belief-wise, I haven't the requisite evidence to claim there is zero doubt whatsoever.
FULLER, QUALIFIED ANSWER
On the belief front, what I am comfortable stating is that the publicly-available evidence in support of my position would meet the UK criminal law standard of proof.
The evidence is in my view sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mason Storm had no professional tie with Banksy and was in no way involved with the painting of Question Time in or around 2009.
What does this actually mean regarding my level of certainty?
Here are different betting scenarios for illustration purposes:
1. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, I will shoot somebody you love in the head, right in front of you."
I would decline to accept that bet.
Because I do not know the facts. And the consequences of getting things wrong seem disproportionately severe, when compared to the potential upside of the ยฃ10 I could spend on a tub of Haribo Tangfastics (400g version only, not the 1kg party tub which costs about twice as much).
2. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, you have to live the rest of this month of February without gas or electricity in your home."
[In other words, no heating, no working refrigerator or stove, no washing machine for cleaning clothes, no hot water for bathing, no lights on at night, no laptop recharging, etc.]
I would happily accept that bet, confident it would lead to me becoming a tenner wealthier.
Because the quantum of evidence is such that, if this were a criminal trial, certain facts could be said to exist (or to not exist). And such evidence, which I consider nearly impossible to refute in good faith, is the basis of my own belief.
3. Random collector says to me, "I am placing ยฃ10 on the table. If you turn out to be correct, then you take my ยฃ10. But if you're wrong, you owe me ยฃ1,000. The odds we're playing for are 100/1 in my favour."
Once again, I would happily accept that bet.
__________
During an exchange with @castlegalleryltd in November last year, I made the following comments in the Who is Mason Storm ? ? ? thread*:
It may necessitate a few months but, at some point in the future, I'll do a lengthy case study on the charlatan that is Mason Storm.
This will include a straightforward and hopefully bulletproof explanation as to why, objectively, it is ridiculous to believe Storm has any direct connection with Banksy or had anything whatsoever to do with the painting of Question Time / Monkey Parliament / Devolved Parliament.
Sorry to put the matter annoyingly on hold for the time being.
It is one that requires the collating of persuasive evidence. As well as a proper, thoughtful response. And thinking now takes me far longer than it used to.
The substance and structure of this case study continues to slowly take shape in my brain.
It will end up being an exceptionally long post, even by my own standards. The priority is to be fair as well as comprehensive, clinical, clear and non-misleading.
There will probably be two main arguments, based on evidence (including visual evidence) and simple reasoning. Each argument, individually, is to my mind convincing and conclusive in itself, without having to rely on the other as backup.
Now admittedly, I do feel a bit resentful about the time and effort I'll have to invest, especially for an artist whose work I have such little interest in or respect for. But I see this task as a duty to fellow art enthusiasts, even if it amounts to just spelling out what should already be obvious to anyone paying attention.
Mason Storm collectors have in my opinion been treated as and taken for fools. Both by Storm and by Stowe Gallery.
To any owners of Storm's work, I would advise them to dump it.
To any potential collectors of his work, my advice would be to keep well away.
When posting, it is the interests of the latter that I choose to prioritise over the former.
Encouraging those who are sitting on the fence to think things fully through and avoid making purchase mistakes feels honourable to me. Much more so than encouraging existing owners to offload their purchase mistakes onto innocent dupes.
__________
Although my case study is still in works, consider reaching out in the meantime to Stowe Gallery. Presumably, that's where you bought your own prints.
If, in a moment of madness, I had acquired anything by Storm, I would certainly be asking the gallery a similar, simple question to the one you asked me, but conversely:
It's been suggested many times, including by Mason Storm himself, that he was hired by Banksy or Banksy's team in or around 2009 to assist with the painting of the original Question Time (now known as Devolved Parliament).
Please could you elaborate on whether there is any truth to those stories.
Such a query is an obvious one, especially since Storm's entire career hinges so heavily on a purported Banksy connection. And since it is also a fair question, it would be completely reasonable for any customer to expect a straight answer from the business that pocketed their money.
Pick up the telephone during business hours, ring Stowe Gallery, and see what they say.
It is one thing to allow (and even encourage) commercially-convenient fake rumours to circulate. But to blatantly lie when speaking with a customer is quite a different level of deception. At least for non-sociopaths, lying so directly would be more uncomfortable.
And so, after asking the question about whether any employment or commission link does exist between Storm and Banksy, what I imagine you'd get at the other end of the line is a bit of stuttering at first.
Perhaps there would then be a faux-humorous "Can't help you there. That's way above my pay grade!" or "Oohโฆ If I told you, I'd have to kill you afterwards!". Or some other type of disingenuous non-reply and evasiveness โ no doubt followed by an awkward attempt to change the subject.
Please give us an update in case you do decide to call the gallery.
But from an optimistic, silver-lining angle, this is also an opportune lesson. A good reminder of how easy it is to falter in our forum posts. And for multiple reasons, including:
(i) posting from a position of ignorance (whereby we may unintentionally become responsible for the spread of misinformation);
(ii) hasty carelessness when drafting (which, among other things, can lead to unhelpful ambiguity as to intended meaning, lack of attention to detail, or partial statements that are misleading through omission); and
(iii) pure intellectual laziness and/or bias (such as insufficient thoroughness when we appraise our own arguments and positions, or a failure to give due consideration to alternative perspectives and viewpoints).
And so, cheers to jay4077 for helping to keep me on my toes.
The forum often works best as a collaboration. A team effort.
Whatever personal embarrassment I may be feel due to my own shortcomings is of course hugely outweighed by the higher interest โ of perpetual collective rigour, allowing for constant improvements to the accuracy and completeness of the data we make available to all of us.
Option D represents the kind of meticulousness here that frankly leaves other art message boards wanting.
But from an optimistic, silver-lining angle, this is also an opportune lesson. A good reminder of how easy it is to falter in our forum posts. And for multiple reasons, including:
(i) posting from a position of ignorance (whereby we may unintentionally become responsible for the spread of misinformation);
(ii) hasty carelessness when drafting (which, among other things, can lead to unhelpful ambiguity as to intended meaning, lack of attention to detail, or partial statements that are misleading through omission); and
(iii) pure intellectual laziness and/or bias (such as insufficient thoroughness when we appraise our own arguments and positions, or a failure to give due consideration to alternative perspectives and viewpoints).
And so, cheers to jay4077 for helping to keep me on my toes.
The forum often works best as a collaboration. A team effort.
Whatever personal embarrassment I may be feel due to my own shortcomings is of course hugely outweighed by the higher interest โ of perpetual collective rigour, allowing for constant improvements to the accuracy and completeness of the data we make available to all of us.
Option D represents the kind of meticulousness here that frankly leaves other art message boards wanting.