Gloucester's very own Banksy speaks
GRAFFITI – is it art or vandalism?
Well, the man behind the most recent addition to the walls of Gloucester believes it is both, and admits that people's attitude to the art form in the city is relaxing.
Shoppers in Gloucester might have noticed the appearance of graffiti along hoardings at the former Gloscat in Brunswick Road and Dr Seuss's Cat in the Hat scrawled on a wall in the Oxebode, in the past few days.
Its creator, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken exclusively to The Citizen about his work and other creations in the city.
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He said: "Tags and little bits of rubbish graffiti is vandalism, I can appreciate that. But when the pieces are really good, I don't think it can be labelled as vandalism.
"There are two chimps and a snow leopard opposite the library in Brunswick Road and they are great.
"There are quite a few people stencilling in Gloucester at the moment, more than before."
He believes that attitudes towards street art in Gloucester is more relaxed than it used to be.
"I think people don't mind it as much as they used to," he added.
"It used to be really taboo and people made their minds up straight away, but now it seems people are considering the quality of it and making an informed decision.
"We're never going to be as liberal about it here in Gloucester as they are in Bristol, but it is getting better."
Meanwhile, visitors to www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk have had their say on his latest piece.
Katieshopper said: "Not all graffiti is art and it also depends where it's put, but I like this as it's certainly cheered up what is an otherwise drab and soul less building. Plus I love Cat in the Hat!"
Comments
by flava-street
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 3:48PM
“I hate graffiti when it's not done properly. Soo many kids going round tagging shops and signs... Don't see the need, u can even read them anyway! I like the pieces like in Bristol ect. I'm trying to make my way to fame, painting in Bristol in may upfest 2013... But we do need to stop taggers that's for sure!”
by grumpyand50
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 3:21PM
“Well done to TIG for promoting vandalism, lets all go and do it on St James House then would that be okay?”
by flava-street
Friday, January 11 2013, 5:15PM
“I'm a painter but only for money and good case, I painted a remember acne piece for Cain Westcarr who died a month or two back.. And yeah I'm not doing it against the law... There are few around Gloucester that tag which have wrecked a piece I done that was commit ironed also... I don't like tags they need to be stopped... I don't tended do do stickers for the street either like a year ago... Got um on my website selling them along with canvas's now.. All Artist's start somewhere but I'm not one who does it against the law”
by FreeRadical1
Friday, January 11 2013, 5:05PM
“If the owners of the buildings that have been attacked take Northcliffe Media to court, they wil have to reveal the name of the 'artist' so that he can be sued in the county court for the full cost of removing the paint. That's certainly what I'd do if I were the victim of such an attack. The police were going to prosecute the Greyfriars monument attacker from last year, but I don't know what happened to that case.”
by flava-street
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:59PM
“Yeah that's me*”
by flava-street
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:59PM
“Gaya that's me..”
by flava-street
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:57PM
“Yeah bro.. Haha trying to brighten the place... Take it u like street art then... Some people hate but oh we'll I'm just tryina do wat I love”
by beastie
Thursday, January 10 2013, 7:09PM
“@Flava Take it you're the one doing all those stickers, Makes the place a bit more interesting that's for sure”
by flava-street
Thursday, January 10 2013, 6:45PM
“I agree dude... Mystery artist needs more work round there getting better and better!!! Who is this guy!!”
by beastie
Thursday, January 10 2013, 6:40PM
“"There are two chimps and a snow leopard opposite the library in Brunswick Road and they are great.
Thank you.
The King Kong piece is still the best in Gloucester though.”