"Graffiti art has a hard enough life as it is, before you add hedge-fund managers wanting to chop it out and hang it over the fireplace." - Banksy
The "Rat Race" Banksy stencil appeared just a few days ago on the face of an abandoned building at 101 West 14th Street. But, yesterday morning the work (clock face and all) was ordered to be removed by the building owner. It was later confirmed that the work was removed for the purpose of being sold.
To the frustration of passerby's and street art enthusiast Banksy's signature rodent lasted only hours. Personally, I was ready to go visit it! But the building owner quickly got wind of his abandoned building’s newfound fame and had the rat removed.
Ahh, Rats...
This isn’t the first time a Banksy work has been stripped away from its surroundings and sold at a private auction. It’s a really bizarre scenario when a rebellious street artist can command an audience from both sides of the aisle. It’s an unlikely tug of war, or perhaps... an epic trolling?
The Race of Capitalism
Who knows, maybe the removal was all part of the act? Banksy always appears to be 1-2 steps evenly ahead of both his followers and his critics. What do you think, Steemit? If the Rat had stayed - would the impact of it be the same compared to the reality that it survived less than a New York Minute?
What do you think is the meaning behind the rat racing a clock?