In the early 2000s, the street artist known as Banksy began gaining notoriety for his distinctive graffiti works. Despite various speculations over the years linking Banksy to people like Jamie Hewlett, a co-creator of Gorillaz and Tank Girl, and Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack, his true identity remained a mystery.
Recently, however, a 2003 BBC interview has shed new light on this enigma. The interview features a conversation between Banksy, at the time a rising street artist, and Nigel Wrench, a former BBC arts correspondent. This discussion occurred prior to Banksy's "Turf War" exhibition in East London. During the interview, Wrench, referring to a prior mention in The Independent, asks if he could address Banksy by his real name, suggesting "Robert Banks." Banksy's response? Simply "It's Robbie."
This revelation surfaced when Wrench revisited the original recording, having been inspired by the BBC's podcast series "The Banksy Story," which aired in July and used an edited version of the interview. In the original, Banksy also muses on the nature of graffiti, asserting its legitimacy and inevitability within urban landscapes. He recounts receiving mixed reactions to his work, including some positive feedback from police officers. Banksy views the city as a playground, open for creative expression, while acknowledging that others have the right to paint over his work if they choose.
Jean Dubreil