Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / LONDON
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

12:02 GMT, Friday, 2 May 2008 13:02 UK

Tunnel becomes Banksy art exhibit

In pictures: Banksy tunnel

Woman photographs Banksy tunnel artwork

A disused road tunnel in south London has been turned into a giant exhibition space by graffiti artist Banksy.

Murals in the Bristol artist's famous stencil style appear with work by 29 other artists in a half-mile stretch of the tunnel in Leake Street, Waterloo.

Images of Madonna kissing Britney Spears and a hoodie appear alongside installations of crashed cars.

People can add their own stencil work to the tunnel walls in a three-day exhibition, opening on Saturday.

Reclusive artist Banksy kept the tunnel's location secret until Friday morning.

'Filth pit'

He said the exhibition, known as the Cans Festival, aimed to "transform a dark forgotten filth pit" into "an oasis of beautiful art".

"I've always felt anyone with a paint can should have as much say in how our cities look as architects and ad men," Banksy said.

The installations will be removed after the event but Banksy said he hoped the murals and graffiti would become permanent part of the tunnel.

They also include images of a girl holding flowers, London Bridge, the Queen and Boris Johnson.

An installation depicts a burnt-out car crashed into a tree while another stencil spells out: "Hey Banksy - why don't you return my emails?"

In recent years his work has grown in popularity, with Brad Pitt and Christina Aguilera listed among celebrity collectors.

In January a piece of his graffiti in Portobello Road, west London - which shows a painter finishing off the word "Banksy" - attracted a bid of £208,100 in an online auction.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Banksy artwork to stay uncovered (05 Mar 08 |  Merseyside )
£208,100 eBay bid for Banksy wall (14 Jan 08 |  Entertainment )
Artist Banksy 'captured in photo' (31 Oct 07 |  Bristol/Somerset )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The Cans Festival
Banksy's latest work unveiled
Banksy
Banksy picture gallery - BBC London
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©