Banksy brings international interest to Dover
About
Between May 6th and May 7th 2017 artist Banksy gifted Dover an iconic art work that has brought interest to Dover from all over the World.
There has been much talk over the last years of the need for an iconic art work in Dover and overnight one arrived.
Not only is it aesthetic and brilliantly painted but like all good art wortks it is open to different interpretations and has initiated much discussion.
Joanna was on Radio Kent in the morning of its arrival
Martin Rosefeldt with Cristoph Krauss on camera made a 6 min report about Dover, Banksy and Brexit for ARTE, the German French Cultural TV network’s Metropolis on June 11th 2017. The report includes clips from the 2012 DAD feature documentary Watermark and interviews amongst others Joanna Jones and Richard Bundy.
And NOW what’s going to happen to the Banksy?
June 16th Joanna spoke again on Radio Kent and local MP Charlie Elphicke started a movement to ‘keep the Banksy in Dover’.
In November 2017 we were sent this poem
Veni Vidi Banksy
With playful polemic, the prankster painter
Depicts a precarious workman
Pointedly chipping our EU star.
In clear view of border-crossing lorry drivers,
For now, until our whim-decision of 2016
Stills the incessant flow of goods, and
This dusty town, once in Caesar’s aim,
Becomes poorer still. We cut the cords
The Roman politician lashed to our shores
To bind us to civilisation, to
Prosperity and opportunities, for some. Yet
We had sailed with Bronze age zeal
Long before and traded for ourselves.
Our great boat lay close by Banksy’s barb, waking
After three thousand years to sing its carved song
Of ancient enterprise and daring.
Steps away from this sprayed farewell
Is the Roman Painted House, where Bacchus will
Forever raise a glass, while we weep
Into our Shepherd Neame.
Will we succumb, as lackeys to another empire,
Begging to add our used star to its flag,
Or will we fly a new banner, stitched
More with hope than skill.
Marka
