grotesqueerie:

Want to know why I dislike Banksy?

Do yourself a favour and check out Blek le Rat (Banksy nicked his rats)

“I used to make a lot of soldiers, then I see Banksy making a lot of soldiers. When I see Banksy making a man with a child or Banksy making rats, of course I see immediately where he takes the idea. I do feel angry. When you’re an artist you use your own techniques. It’s difficult to find a technique and style in art so when you have a style and you see someone else is taking it and reproducing it, you don’t like that. I’m not sure about his integrity. Maybe he has to show his face now and show what kind of guy he is. It’s true that some people say Banksy is a p***k and a lot of young people consider Banksy like a God.”  - Blek le Rat

And look into Banksy’s disrespect to Robbo and the oldest existing piece of graffiti art in London. 

“I fell out with Banksy because of respect, basically. I was introduced to him by Ben at a party in the late Nineties. In our community it is kind of a courtesy to say you’ve heard of someone even when you haven’t. I hadn’t heard of him, but I said I had… Then Banksy said to me ‘I’ve never heard of you.’ Couldn’t believe it! I gave him a backhander. It stunned him and knocked his glasses off his face.” - Robbo 

Banksy decided to respond to Robbo publishing this story in his book by using Robbo’s tag in his own work. Which is a major No. You don’t use someone elses art in your work unless they agree to it. 

Banksy not only disrespected a legend, he made it clear that he considered himself to be allowed to do what he wanted to other peoples art. Because he had the media spoiling him and he was treated by councils as the exception. 

He’s a rude, pretentious, self-important prat.