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An art store with a (Banksy) twist.
At the beginning of October, Banksy did something completely at odds with some of the core messages of his work. He opened a shop in Croydon, London, followed by the launch of an online store. However, in true Banksy fashion, things are not as simple as they may seem. After a greeting card company threatened to commercialize his artworks due to the artist’s refusal to use his trademark for merchandising purposes, Banksy ended the legal proceedings with a bang. The brick-and-mortar Gross Domestic Product appeared on October the 1st in London, though customers couldn’t enter the space. Instead, the interior became an exhibition space filled with Banksy’s artworks. The Banksy online store soon followed, with a range of one-of-a-kind items available at some incredibly reasonable prices for an artist whose work sells at auction for millions.
The Banksy online store includes various products in a limited edition series. Customers can find $13 mugs as well as a police riot helmet covered in mirror pieces, priced at $650. Banksy fans can also buy a TV that features a painting instead of a screen, the vest worn by Stormzy through his Glastonbury Festival set, or a t-shirt version of the infamously shredded Girl with Balloon piece.
Buying a product is not straightforward, as customers have to answer a question at the checkout. Their replies are assessed for various things, including humor. Then, after getting a stamp of approval as a genuine art collector, they receive a private checkout link. The Banksy online store stays open for two weeks and proceeds from the sale will go to good causes, from refugees living in Greek camps to human rights activists. Photographs© Banksy.
