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Paper 'reveals Banksy's identity' | Paper 'reveals Banksy's identity' |
(about 23 hours later) | |
Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy is a 34-year-old former public school pupil called Robin Gunningham, The Mail On Sunday has claimed. | Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy is a 34-year-old former public school pupil called Robin Gunningham, The Mail On Sunday has claimed. |
The paper says it has identified the "guerrilla artist" from a photograph taken four years ago in Jamaica, which shows a man kneeling by a spray can. | The paper says it has identified the "guerrilla artist" from a photograph taken four years ago in Jamaica, which shows a man kneeling by a spray can. |
But a spokeswoman for Banksy refused to comment on the report. "We get these calls all the time," she told the BBC. | But a spokeswoman for Banksy refused to comment on the report. "We get these calls all the time," she told the BBC. |
"I'll say what I always say: I never confirm or deny these stories". | "I'll say what I always say: I never confirm or deny these stories". |
Banksy's stencilled artwork appears unannounced in public spaces around the world. | Banksy's stencilled artwork appears unannounced in public spaces around the world. |
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. | 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. |
But the artist is also renowned for his audacious stunts - such as leaving a life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland in 2006. | But the artist is also renowned for his audacious stunts - such as leaving a life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland in 2006. |
His fiercely-guarded identity only adds to his subversive appeal - and members of the Hollywood elite including Christina Aguilera and Angelina Jolie have snapped up his paintings. | His fiercely-guarded identity only adds to his subversive appeal - and members of the Hollywood elite including Christina Aguilera and Angelina Jolie have snapped up his paintings. |
'Extremely talented' | 'Extremely talented' |
Banksy's graffiti is highly collectable, but is often removed by local councilsThe only solid biographical fact about the artist is that he was born and raised in Bristol. | |
It has often been rumoured that his real name is Robin Banks and that his parents think he is a painter and decorator - but no-one close to Banksy has ever verified these stories. | It has often been rumoured that his real name is Robin Banks and that his parents think he is a painter and decorator - but no-one close to Banksy has ever verified these stories. |
Now, the Mail on Sunday claims to have uncovered his true identity. | Now, the Mail on Sunday claims to have uncovered his true identity. |
The newspaper says it traced the artist using a photograph purporting to show Banksy at work in Jamaica in 2004. Former friends and acquaintances identify the man in the picture as Robin Gunningham. | The newspaper says it traced the artist using a photograph purporting to show Banksy at work in Jamaica in 2004. Former friends and acquaintances identify the man in the picture as Robin Gunningham. |
Scott Nurse, who went to the £9,420-a-year Bristol Cathedral School with Gunningham, tells the paper he was "extremely talented at art". | Scott Nurse, who went to the £9,420-a-year Bristol Cathedral School with Gunningham, tells the paper he was "extremely talented at art". |
"I am not at all surprised if he is Banksy," he is quoted as saying. | "I am not at all surprised if he is Banksy," he is quoted as saying. |
Luke Egan, an artist who later exhibited with Banksy initially denied knowing Gunningham, but eventually agreed he had shared a flat with him. | Luke Egan, an artist who later exhibited with Banksy initially denied knowing Gunningham, but eventually agreed he had shared a flat with him. |
Asked by the paper whether Gunningham was Banksy, he replied: "Well, he wasn't then". Gunningham's father Peter said he did not recognise the person in the photograph, while his mother Pamela maintained she had never even had a son. | Asked by the paper whether Gunningham was Banksy, he replied: "Well, he wasn't then". Gunningham's father Peter said he did not recognise the person in the photograph, while his mother Pamela maintained she had never even had a son. |
'Crushing disappointment' | 'Crushing disappointment' |
The picture the Mail claims is of Banksy was taken by Jamaican photographer Peter Dean Rickards. | The picture the Mail claims is of Banksy was taken by Jamaican photographer Peter Dean Rickards. |
It first appeared on the internet and then in the Mail's sister publication, The Evening Standard, in 2004. | It first appeared on the internet and then in the Mail's sister publication, The Evening Standard, in 2004. |
The artist's stencils often convey subversive political messagesBanksy's agent Steve Lazarides told The New Yorker that Rickards' picture did not depict his client - although Colin Saysell, an anti-graffiti officer in Bristol who has followed Banksy for years, concluded the photo was legitimate. | The artist's stencils often convey subversive political messagesBanksy's agent Steve Lazarides told The New Yorker that Rickards' picture did not depict his client - although Colin Saysell, an anti-graffiti officer in Bristol who has followed Banksy for years, concluded the photo was legitimate. |
Two years later, Banksy insisted the public should never discover who he is. | Two years later, Banksy insisted the public should never discover who he is. |
"I have no interest in ever coming out," he told Swindle magazine. | "I have no interest in ever coming out," he told Swindle magazine. |
"I'm just trying to make the pictures look good; I'm not into trying to make myself look good. | "I'm just trying to make the pictures look good; I'm not into trying to make myself look good. |
"And besides, it's a pretty safe bet that the reality of me would be a crushing disappointment to a couple of 15-year-old kids out there." | "And besides, it's a pretty safe bet that the reality of me would be a crushing disappointment to a couple of 15-year-old kids out there." |
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