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

Description

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

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

Reception

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

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

See also

References

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