Banksy is auctioning the stencil of one of his works to save Oscar Wilde's prison and convert it into a cultural center
The former Reading Prison, where he was also locked up Oscar Wilde, it has been put up for sale and has already found investors who intend to transform it into a luxury residential complex. But things could change thanks to the intervention of Banksy: the famous artist, with a mysterious identity, has in fact announced that he wants to auction the stencil used for his work, created last March on the walls of the building, which depicted a prisoner on the run with a rope made of sheets and tied to a typewriter.
The goal of the Bristol street artist is to be able to collect at least 10 million pounds in order to overcome the offer of investors and buy the property in order to convert it into a certain cultural area open to all citizens.
“Converting the place that destroyed Wilde into a haven for art is so perfect that we have to do it,” Banksy told the BBC.
The Irish writer and playwright was locked up in prison in 1895 on charges of sodomy. And to this traumatic experience he then dedicated the poem "The Ballad of Reading Prison".
Read also: Banksy finances boat to save refugees in the Mediterranean. The little girl with the balloon is now holding a life preserver
A nice gift for the community
Banksy's mobilization to save this symbolic building was greatly appreciated by many bodies and institutional figures, including Labor MP Matt Rodda of Reading East.
Banksy has been incredibly generous and this is the best Christmas present Reading could wish for - he commented - I spoke to Banksy and his team for a few months and was impressed with his commitment to save the prison. He really sees the potential in this important historic building, which not only has connections to Oscar Wilde, but is built on top of the site of the former Reading Abbey where King Henry I was buried. I hope the government will now listen and consider this offer. - both council and arts community money - and help us turn the prison into an arts center for our community and country.
Even according to Toby Davies, artistic director of the Rabble Theater in Reading, rejecting Banksy's offer would be insane, indeed a criminal act. Will the rebellious genius of the street artist succeed in this undertaking as well?
Follow your Telegram | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube
Source: BBC
Read also:
- Record Banksy auction: 16,7 million pounds for the painting dedicated to nurses. The proceeds go to British healthcare
- Check out a new graffiti probably painted by Banksy on the facade of the prison
- Record Banksy: his reinterpretation of Monet sold at auction for 8,4 million euros
- Banksy in "smartworking" like a rat in a cage: "My wife hates me when I work from home"
