When street artist Banksy announced his Cut and Run exposition being held at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, I am not going to lie I was absolutely thrilled. So intrigued, in fact, I think I WhatsApped my entire family (in-laws and all) to let them know about it. The opportunity to understand the mindset of the world famous and illusive Banksy as well as witness some of the tools of his trade was not only fascinating for me, it was a major coup for my home city of Glasgow. Me? I had to buy tickets for the first Saturday of the expo.
Glasgow is no stranger when it comes to exhibitions. Our historic status as second city of the Empire means Glasgow was often at the forefront of the pomp and pageantry that goes with putting on a lavish show. From the 1888 International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, which helped fund our world renowned Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, to the Empire Exhibition at Bellahouston Park in 1938, Glasgow was the staging place for countless showcase events.
After the managed decline in the city and the loss of many of its heavy industrial output, Glasgow was left in the shadow and had to rebuild as well as rebrand our global credentials. A century on from hosting our first great exhibition, Glasgow was centre stage for the Garden Festival in 1988, attracting over 4 million visitors to the city. This success was followed when our dear green place was christened the European City of Culture in 1990. Over 30 years on and Glasgow continues to flourish and is recognised globally as centre of excellence for development, innovation and of course a very warm welcome.
The tough economic downturn in Glasgow after the 2nd world war as well as our long history of protest, reform and deep desire for social justice perhaps played a small part in Banksy choosing Glasgow to host his exhibition. As I walked through the display at GOMA it was striking absorbing the commentary provided with each stencil and exhibit. That need to question everything is easily translated from the social commentary that Banksy puts so eloquently into his artwork. We can all interpret differently, for some it will be grafitti, for others it will be art. For me it is a platform of protest and desire for change.
Banksy makes sure to point out that in his mind you will only see one masterpiece as part of the exhibition. That wonder can be witnessed every day in Glasgow and is stationed outside the host venue. The statue dedicated to Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington has been the centre point of Glasgows ability to never take itself too seriously over the decades. A traffic cone placed on the Duke's head has been a mainstay of Glasgow life for almost 50 years.
The Iron Duke, famous for his victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and leading 19th century Britain as Prime Minister on 2 occasions, provides another beautiful contradiction in Glasgow. For a Tory politician to have a statue in the centre of our city is one thing, but for the same man to be one of the leading voices for the Catholic Emancipation Act perhaps sheds some light on the power of driving much needed change.
Whether you see the cone on Wellingtons head as art or vandalism is your choice, similar to the global impact of Banksy and his works. One thing I will say is do your best to go along & take in the exhibition - it is a real eye opener into the mystique behind the murals Banksy delivers.
