UNITED KINGDOM: Two icons of the contemporary art world Andy Warhol and Banksy vie for dominance in a new exhibition

K.T. Tunstall and Kelly Osbourne are amongst the guests to see legendary pop artist Warhol defend his title against elusive political graffiti artist Banksy. In a battle of mythic proportions, two icons of the contemporary art world vie for dominance in a new exhibition. "Warhol vs. Banksy" opened at members club The Hospital on Thursday (August 9) with celebrity guests including K.T. Tunstall, Kelly Osbourne and British pop star Kate Nash. A total of 21 Warhol pieces and 22 by Banksy fought for the public's attention and affections. Among some of the highlights includes Warhol's 1963 classic portrait of Marilyn Monroe pitted against Banksy's Kate Moss, both using the same silkscreen method to transform the actress and model respectively into multi-colour if dehumanising images. Warhol originally created his "Marilyn" silkscreen as a statement on Hollywood's factory production of celebrities and the public's mass consumption of them. Banksy's tongue-in-cheek works can be seen dotted throughout the world with some showing up in the most unlikely places, such as Israel's Wall. Angelina Jolie is a fan and snapped up a reported 400,000 U.S. dollars for three pieces. Guests were welcomed to the exhibition by a painting by the covert graffiti artist when they arrived. The painting features and English football hooligan wearing Union Jack boxer shorts with a can of beer in his hand, apparently having thrown a chair through a coffee shop window. The people in the shop look at him. The work is copied and altered from that of Edward Hooper's famed "Nighthawks" Singer K.T. Tunstall said it was difficult trying to decide which of the two artists was her favourite. "It (Warhol) was so bold at the time and I think what Banksy does is very bold within a context of other people doing the same thing in a much more bland way. It's the fact that he faces serious moral issues in a childlike manner," she said. When asked whether she would like to be emulated by future generations, in the manner of Banksy being hailed as the modern day Warhol, she said: "I think it's a bit arrogant really. I think everyone from the past has left a legacy because they've done something really fantastic. And for me to stand here after having made one album and a slightly new album, I wouldn't feel comfortable saying I'm emulated but I've certainly say I've tried." Four sketches of the Beatles by Warhol were shown for the first-time to their fellow countrymen at the exhibition. The drawings were imported from Vienna's Albertina Museum. Two pieces show Warhol's drawing of Queen Elizabeth versus Banksy's "MonkeyQueen" which depicts the Queen as the jungle animal. Other of Banksy's works include: Winston Churchill with a green mohawk, inspired by the 2004 anarchic riots in London; a British police officer holding up his middle finger and a monkey wearing a sign reading 'Laugh now, but one day we'll be in charge". All the works show Banksy's highly sarcastic and witty nature. "I think to some extent that may well be the case. Both artists have fixed agenda when it comes to revealing something about their generation. Certainly from Warhol's point of view, he looked at the idea of what celebrity was and how valuable it was to his generation. And for Banksy, there's a similar attitude. Banksy's borrowed and used with great skill and much wit from a lot of the techniques Warhol used himself," said Duncan Cargill, Creative Director For The Hospital. The most heated battle came when Warhol's iconic Campbell's soup cans went tete-a-tete with Banksy's Tesco soup cans. Banksy copied the artistic technique and humour of Warhol using UK supermarket Tesco as the brand. The exhibition runs until September 1.

ITN Source | August 16, 2007

Tags:. .shown. .kingdom. .fixed. .famed. .comfortable