The city is full of Banksy scavengers, but the elusive artist remains one step ahead of everybody. Today, Banksy hit the social networks with pictures of his latest work and this quote: “People ask why I want to have an exhibition in the streets, but have you been to an art gallery recently? They’re full”. Inspired by the now collapsed Occupy movement, the Brit-born artist have aligned himself with Os Gêmeos, twin artists from Brazil, in a work that looks more like a commissioned public installation rather than his signature street art. This one is, by all means, a wonderful piece. They have combined Banksy’s black and white stencil style with the yellow-tinged people by Os Gêmeos. In one painting, one of signature Os Gêmeos protestors is surrounded by Banksy’s policemen, while in the other, one of the Brit-born artist’s armored man stands alone in a crowd of Os Gêmeos characters. Both pieces, large paintings that previously appeared in the cover of the Village Voice, are hanging by chains from a railroad trestle, just under the High Line. The access is restricted and the work is protected by a few guarded men. Try to screw this one up, Bloomberg! You have to be patient cause the lines are large, but once you are there you have as much time as you need… or as much battery your mobile phone has… There’s also a watercooler of white wine (yeah, really) and a bench for contemplation. A call to the audio guide treats you with this judgment: “We are forced to consider if all the big ideas have already collapsed. But what if the idea that all the big ideas have collapsed collapses? Then where will we be?”. Let’s think about that!
Stenciled in New York 