Xavier Tapies

Where's Banksy? Xavier Tapies

The world's most celebrated artist, Banksy, keeps going from strength to strength and this latest edition of Where's Banksy? brings the book up-to-date with new art. So we have his brilliant Migrant Child With Pink Flare in Venice, to the fantastic situationist Valentine's Day in Bristol. Two works referencing the pandemic show Banksy at his most eloquent. His homage to Oscar Wilde, Create Escape, also resulted in Banksy selling the work he stenciled on the side of Reading Jail in England, thus ensuring that the jail was turned into an arts center rather than being demolished by developers. And then we have Banksy's typically witty Great British Spraycation, featuring several works created in seaside towns along Britain's east coast, with Banksy addressing the plight of migrants, global warming, corporate greed and smug Western selfishness, always with that inimitable eloquence and humor. Amazingly, 20 years after his first works appeared in Bristol, Banksy has not only maintained his relevance, but has managed to preserve his anonymity. Street art expert Xavier Tapies provides insightful commentary.