Banksy’s third intervention in NYC took place in Midtown Manhattan, exactly in west 24th Street and Sixth Avenue. But wait, it depends on what we want to call Midtown Manhattan. Google defines it between 14th Street and 59th Street. Wikipedia agrees on 59th Street as the northern limit but suggests that its southern border can be 34th Street, 23rd Street or even 14th Street. So let’s just say Google is right and this did happen in Midtown Manhattan.
This is how the original stencil (one of Banksy’s main graffiti styles) looked like back in 2013. Many graffiti purists (if that term actually exists) don’t like Banksy very much, amongst many things because he uses stencils and they feel it’s fake or that it’s nothing more than street art.
As with all his works in NYC, the dog-and-the-fire-hydrant piece was not declared an authentic Banksy until it appeared in the artist’s Instagram account and his website. An interesting fact is that several Banksy Facebook and Twitter fake accounts have been created, gaining the attention of thousands of unaware followers. As stated in his own site, he only owns an Instagram account and a website.
This is how it looks in 2016 (March to be more precise).
Yes, it was destroyed by other graffiti artists. They thought he was getting too much credit for his “simplistic” work. Actually only a few of his works have survived. Just a few hours after it was discovered, it was already tagged. Then some people tried to rescue it. Like the guy in the picture, identified as Levy, who did it because he “appreciates the culture“. However, Levy’s effort was not enough. Even dogs where passing by and marking territory on the painted wall.
Loved by some, hated by many, the truth is that everyone has tried and keeps trying to make money out of Banksy’s work, even Groupon where you can get a gold-ornate-framed Banksy.
By Andrés Duque
finding bksy 