Sunday, May 1, 2011

Banksy Beats The Buff


Despite being buffed, Banksy's Crayon Soldier fights back!

It was his first piece in Los Angeles and possibly the most popular. It was a beautiful stencil that brought attitude, and a rainbow of color to the typically black and white discipline of stenciling. And even though it was rumored that Banksy placed the piece at this location behind Urban Outfitters to reward them for selling his book, after a few weeks of riding, the property manager eventually buffed Banksy's Crayon Soldier.

But Banksy's Soldier fights back. Surfacing from up under the green buff paint, the flowers are starting to bloom once again.

It must have to do with some sort of reaction with the paint, but the flowers and a butterfly from Banksy's original piece are coming through the green paint of the buff. If is very clear, and can be seen from 10 feet away.

We always theorized that this piece was based on the idea of using art as a weapon, and these flowers must be something like land mines, that are set to go off long after the battle. Fortunately, these bombs only bring joy.

Very cool to see Banksy's Crayon Soldier fighting back.


^A pic of the wall before the buff.


^How the wall looks now. Not the best light, but the flowers can be seen.


^Flowers





^Close up of the texture breaking through.

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