Giant Banksy pub rat to be painted over

Posted: February 21st, 2010 | Author: | Category: Art News, Auctions | Tags: | 5 Comments »

Photo by Paul Stevenson

Remember that dilapidated pub in Liverpool that sold at auction this week for £114,000? And how most people assumed that it sold for that price because there is a huge rat painted by Banksy on the outside of the pub worth at least £114,000? Turns out, the buyers plan to knock the pub down, artwork included. It’s a shame really. Sure, nobody expects street pieces to last forever, but this is a well-executed and well-preserved piece. It seems nuts that a developer would just knock it down.

The buyer said this to The Telegraph:

“I’m not a fan of modern art, I can’t say I know much about it really”

and

“All I was concerned about was getting this great building for a good price, I’m going to turn it into luxury flats.”

I’d urge somebody to start a campaign to save this piece, if only I could think of any logical way for it to be preserved (could they cover it in a layer of anti-graffiti paint?). After all, it just takes one jerk with a can of spray paint to destroy the entire thing.

Related posts:

  1. Kid Acne’s art fag: giant street art + a new white wall
  2. A successful Banksy (oh and Banksy updated his website)
  3. Banksy hits LA
  4. Banksy news update

  • http://www.yote.wordpress.com yote

    I think its hilarious that this looks more like a cat than a rat… possibly on purpose since its a commission?

  • http://www.kloneyourself.com klone

    I dont get the idea of preserving any street piece whatsoever , if its on the street its not supposed to last , with all respect to Banksy , it feels right every time his pieces get tagged over , just exactly like many other pieces by other artists on the streets , tagged , buffed or the building gets taken down , thats part of the deal .

  • http://www.vandalog.com RJ

    I would like to see a few street pieces preserved, Banksy’s in particular because his outdoor work tends to be more interesting than his indoor pieces. While I understand that outdoor work is meant to be temporary, I’d like some things to be preserved for future generations.

  • http://redsquirrrel.blogspot.com sioux

    things of value constantly gets knocked down to be replaced by developments. shame on London for allowing that…
    “Luxury flats” decrease in value by the year, while a Banksy piece would surely increase, no?

  • http://www.vandalog.com RJ

    Yeah would would think so, but luxury flats are more profitable in the short term. And it’s not easy for a city government to admit to wanting to preserve vandalism.