Banksy's 'A Visual Protest' Opens at Chiostro del Bramante in Rome

After a delay due to the March 2020 lockdown, the exhibition 'Banksy. A Visual Protest' has opened at the Chiostro del Bramante in Rome, running until April 11, 2021. The show features 90 works, all certified by Pest Control, the official authentication body for Banksy's pieces. The venue, a prestigious 16th-century cloister that recently hosted exhibitions on Turner and Bacon/Freud, provides a Renaissance backdrop. The exhibition coincides with the anniversary of Raphael's death, inviting comparisons between the two artists. The display begins with serigraphs from galleries and private collections, including 'Girl with Balloon' (notorious for its shredding at a 2018 auction), 'Monkey Queen', 'Toxic Mary', 'Soup Can' series, and a homage to Keith Haring. A niche presents 'Welcome Mat / Gross Domestic Product Installation', addressing migrant reception, previously shown in a temporary Banksy shop in London. The show traces street art origins to the May 1968 French posters and Banksy's early inspiration from Massive Attack's leader and work for bands like Blur. A video room displays street works from Venice and Naples. The final room, titled 'A Visual Protest', includes 'Jack & Jill' and 'Flower Thrower', the latter reproduced on a Palestinian wall in 2003. The exhibition draws diverse crowds despite Rome's reduced tourism.