Banksy watch, week 4: Street artist ends New York 'residency'

For his final week, Banksy went back to basics, putting up stenciled graffiti every day, with a few cheeky messages and moves in between.

The street artist tagged a truck last Saturday with the sentence, “The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet,” and followed that up with what he grumpily claims is a rejected column for The New York Times. In it, he criticizes the new One World Trade Center tower as “something they would build in Canada.” (Hey Banksy, every city’s got something people call an eyesore.) He goes on to say that the building fails to represent New York. “Nobody comes to New York to bathe in your well-mannered common sense,” he writes. We’re here for the spirit and audacity. Of which One World Trade has none… One World Trade declares the glory days of New York are gone.”

(…Okay, we’ll let him have this one, considering how much of his work’s been tampered with — a few thieves even attempted to snatch the final New York residency piece , an inflatable piece sporting Banky’s name.)

On his website, Banksy accompanied the final piece with the message, “And that’s it. Thanks for your patience. It’s been fun. Save 5pointz. Bye.” He added a “souvenir T shirt” design to his final post, urging fans to take the jpeg “to a copy store and make it yourself,” leaving one last bold line for fans to interpret.

So that’s that — since Banksy’s final “installment,” New Yorkers and art enthusiasts have been left to take a look back at his month-long “residency.” Is he an act, or is he art? Is he a jerk, or is he a genius? If Banksy never reveals his identity, we may never know. (And it’s not like there’ll be an Exit Through the Gift Shop 2 coming out anytime soon.)

In the meantime, though, take a look back at his final week’s pieces. (For superfans, consider getting a tattoo.) Last week’s pieces can be seen here.

October 26, Sunset Park

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