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Owner says decision to move Banksy to England 'forced upon him' by Neath Port Talbot council

By NationCymru
Season's Greetings, Banksy Photo CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

A decision to bid farewell to a mural created by Banksy which is due to be moved to England has caused controversy after its buyer claimed that it was the council that wanted it moved.

Neath Port Talbot council released a statement yesterday saying that it was " grateful so many people had the chance to view" the artwork but that it was now a matter for its owner, John Brandler.

The owner however says that it was not his decision to move the artwork and that Port Talbot Council wanted it moved to make way for commercial space in the town.

In a statement, the council said: “The council wishes the owner of Season’s Greetings well and is grateful so many people had the chance to view it here in the time it was loaned to us. The future of Season’s Greetings is now of course a matter for Mr Brandler.”

But John Brandler said the council had approached him and asked him to move the artwork.

"Whether the Banksy leaves Wales and goes to Peterborough, or several other locations, who have expressed the desire to have it, the decision has been forced upon me by the council," he said in a statement to the BBC.

"I didn't instigate the removal of the Banksy, the council did and I wish them the best success for the town in the commercial space."

The Banksy appeared on the walls of a Taibach garage in December 2018. The piece was purchased by Essex based Mr Brandler with the Welsh Government agreeing to pay for the valuable artwork to be moved at its expense to a new unoccupied retail unit in Pobl’s Ty’r Orsaf, Port Talbot, where it could be viewed by members of the public.

"That arrangement terminates on January 14th next year and we understand that Season’s Greetings is to feature in a street art exhibition in Peterborough due to start next month," the council said in a press release.

John Brandler however said he had been told by the council he had no choice but to remove it before 14 January because "there was such a demand for commercial space" in the area.

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10 comments

Kerry Davies

I wonder what the owner would say were Banksy to withdraw accreditation since it is one of the most site-specific artworks in existence?

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Paul Reynolds

How do you call it "one or the most site specific [] works on existence?" Especially when of you read the article it has already been moved once?

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Dai Rob

Stupid comment, it moved from Taibach to the town centre, a total distance of about half a mile, still within a stones throw (literally!0 of the Steelworks!!!!!!

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Kerry Davies

It was created in and for Port Talbot referring to the steelworks, innocence, pollution and humour. Season's Greetings was actually in sight of the blast furnaces. Moving it away from Taibach was bad enough but taking it to Peterborough makes it near meaningless.

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j humphrys

Neath PT Seasonal news. Wonder what Banksy thinks about his Christmas gift to NPT being "owned"? Love the effect of the rubbish bin ash hailed by the homeless guy as Christmas snow! Would have thought NPT would have strived to obtain it and park it in a public place? Not a hope. "British people have poor art education, and it shows" -David Hockney.

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Dai Rob

Absolutely gutted to be honest, buy not surprised! From the moment it was sold (and NPT Council &amp; the Welsh govt wanted nothing to do with it)....thge writing was on the wall. Ironically, Covid probably gave us an extra year of it being here. Never get a thing from the Welsh Govt....the best thing ever to happen to PT, and its now gone!! (PS Brandler is a lier!!!)

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Paul Johnson

I said when I first saw the Banksy at its original site in Taibach that it was a wonderful gift to an ungrateful uncultured town. I was proved right. Councillors and other politicians queued up to be on TV when it was first seen. They didn't get the message implicit in the artwork. And now it is going to England. What an insult.

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jon donoghue

It's only hype...it means fa...it's only there for people who think it's of some real value...in reality...it's worthless...&amp; The future of 🔥 will prove so... ☯️

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jon donoghue

Why is something of no real use .worth anything....in reality...you can't drink it !.. you can't eat it..!!. You can't breathe it...! It's only purpose is for those that have created homelessness....??.. the need for more !... 🥺... Greed 🙄

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jon donoghue

Wanksey had actually got a ring to it...!! . So if wanker was written everywhere...!!.. 🤔...would those who rejoice in this so called art from..??.. 😂...be recognised..😜🤣😅🏡💕😜

Reply

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Replying to j humphrys Cancel

Neath PT Seasonal news. Wonder what Banksy thinks about his Christmas gift to NPT being "owned"? Love the effect of the rubbish bin ash hailed by the homeless guy as Christmas snow! Would have thought NPT would have strived to obtain it...

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