# Banksy's gift to a UK hospital **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302 "2020-05-06T22:50:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/1 "2020-05-06T22:50:10Z")
Perhaps I’m just feeling very emotional at the moment but it’s been many years since a piece of art made me shed a tear. I’m not sure if Banksy’s done much framed art before but he hand delivered a painting to Southampton General Hospital today depicting a child playing with a nurse doll like a superhero with Batman and Spiderman dolls binned in the background. He left a note saying: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.” > **[New Banksy piece celebrates superhero health workers](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/06/banksy-artwork-superhero-nurse-nhs-coronavirus-covid-19-southampton-general-hospital)** > > Artwork depicts child playing with nurse toy, with Batman and Spider-Man discarded in a bin One of the reasons I like this is because it’s so simple. I know he can bash us over the head a bit and the message isn’t subtle - but here is a message that is universal rather than local or political, and yet would have been largely meaningless only three months ago. EDIT: of course, he has famously done at least one framed picture before :smack: …but I doubt this one contains a hidden shredder. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/2 "2020-05-06T23:43:45Z")
Thanks! That’s a really nice story. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/3 "2020-05-07T01:43:21Z")
I saw a piece on this on BBC America tonight. It’s a beautiful and touching piece of art, and according to the broadcast I listened to, the plan is to auction it off to benefit the NHS. Estimates are that it’ll bring in at least a million pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Sean\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/4 "2020-05-07T10:11:32Z")
Truth in art. * * * “Stay the blazes home” - Stephen McNeil, Premier of Nova Scotia ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/5 "2020-05-07T14:39:27Z")
I just hope no one steals it from the hospital in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/6 "2020-05-07T19:23:22Z")
He hand-delivered the painting? Did anyone try following him home? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/7 "2020-05-07T20:06:15Z")
I’m not a fan of Banksy, but this was very cool. I like the fact he emulated Rockwell. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/8 "2020-05-08T07:44:03Z")
I may be in a minority here, and if people like his work then good for them, but I find him as subtle as a kick in the nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/9 "2020-05-08T07:54:34Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I may be in a minority here, and if people like his work then good for them, but I find him as subtle as a kick in the nuts. Also note its two male superheroes binned in favor of a female nurse. If he put Captain Marvel in the bin half of England would be on fire in protest and Disney would reveal that thanks to an IP trace Banksy was actually a member of a secret Facebook group that was planning on protesting showings of Black Widow. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/10 "2020-05-08T08:28:13Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > lf he put Captain Marvel in the bin half of England would be on fire in protest and Disney would reveal that thanks to an IP trace . I think you overestimate the degree to which almost everyone in this country would care. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/11 "2020-05-08T16:48:21Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I may be in a minority here, and if people like his work then good for them, but I find him as subtle as a kick in the nuts. He’s never been subtle. That’s the point. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/12 "2020-05-08T18:01:49Z")
I think it’s pretty obvious that he chose the two superheroes that he did because they’re instantly recognizable, even to people unfamiliar with superheroes and even in a black-and-white drawing. It might also have been intentional that they were one each from each of the two major superhero publishers, but I expect that any analysis beyond that is fruitless. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/13 "2020-05-08T18:01:34Z")
I think it’s pretty obvious that he chose the two superheroes that he did because they’re instantly recognizable, even to people unfamiliar with superheroes and even in a black-and-white drawing. It might also have been intentional that they were one each from each of the two major superhero publishers, but I expect that any analysis beyond that is fruitless. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/14 "2020-05-08T18:20:24Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I may be in a minority here, and if people like his work then good for them, but I find him as subtle as a kick in the nuts. Gets your attention, doesn’t it?😃 You clearly miss the point of his work. He’s a _graffiti artist_. If he wanted to be subtle he’d work in miniature watercolors. This is like criticizing a Roadrunner cartoon for not being subtle. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/15 "2020-05-08T20:38:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Gets your attention, doesn’t it?😃 Not really, a roll of the eyes maybe. He seems to be held up as more than a “mere” grafitti artist though and I;m not quite sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/16 "2020-05-08T21:43:01Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Not really, a roll of the eyes maybe. A kick in the nuts just gets an eye roll from you?:eek: > [@](#): > > He seems to be held up as more than a “mere” grafitti artist though and I;m not quite sure why. Just by referring to graffiti art as “mere” shows you don’t get the genre at all. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/17 "2020-05-08T22:41:41Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Not really, a roll of the eyes maybe. He seems to be held up as more than a “mere” grafitti artist though and I;m not quite sure why. He’s a _damn good_ graffiti artist. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/18 "2020-05-09T00:17:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think it’s pretty obvious that he chose the two superheroes that he did because they’re instantly recognizable, even to people unfamiliar with superheroes and even in a black-and-white drawing. It might also have been intentional that they were one each from each of the two major superhero publishers, but I expect that any analysis beyond that is fruitless. They are not just instantly recognizable, they are the biggest hero from each company. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/19 "2020-05-09T02:56:24Z")
It’s a beautiful sketch, which is one of the important factors for a work of art intended to be shown to the general public. Kids might well like it despite it being black and white - it’s in the style of 1930s book illustrations. Not all art needs to be subtle. > [@Asuka](#): > > Also note its two male superheroes binned in favor of a female nurse. > > If he put Captain Marvel in the bin half of England would be on fire in protest and Disney would reveal that thanks to an IP trace Banksy was actually a member of a secret Facebook group that was planning on protesting showings of Black Widow. No, most people aren’t as obsessed with gender as you appear to be. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302/20 "2020-05-09T07:03:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > A kick in the nuts just gets an eye roll from you?:eek Where, exactly, is the “kick in the nuts”? > [@](#): > > Just by referring to graffiti art as “mere” shows you don’t get the genre at all. The quotes are there because that is indeed how some people consider graffitti artists, if that is how I considered the genre I wouldn’t use quotes at all would I? So no, I like some graffitti art very much thank you, just not his. It doesn’t even have the benefit of being aesthetically interesting to me, He is held up as something beyond the ordinary (and perhaps I could have used the word “ordinary” instead of “mere” to avoid misunderstanding) but it does nothing for me. Personal taste, you might like him, I don’t. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have talent, just that he doesn’t have a talent for making me think or feel anything very much. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banksys-gift-to-a-uk-hospital/853302.md?page=2)