Banksy

At 6 p.m., I walked across to the station and boarded the train that had just arrived, heading to Waterloo. On board, I did a route plan to Charring Cross Road so that I could let PY know of my expected arrival time. I thought the app was playing up because it only offered route suggestions based on the tub journey via Wimbledon. 

When I arrived at Waterloo, I understood why. A suspended Northern Line service meant the obvious journey to Leicester Square wasn't possible. In the end, I took a Bakerloo line train and walked from Charring Cross station. This seems like the clear alternative, but the map app didn't suggest it.

We'd booked for the Art of Banksy exhibition, which recently moved from Regents Street. When PY was in Lyon earlier in the year, helping with an art program, I expressed an interest in seeing more art. Tonight might be the first time we'd been to a gallery since. 

It's a large space containing many signed prints of Banky's work that were probably purchased reasonably priced and now worth thousands. It claims to hold the world's most extensive collection of original and authenticated Banksys. Included is an original piece of concrete featuring an image that was salvaged when a building was demolished. It's fascinating, and we spent a good hour reviewing all the prints. It was nice that it was not packed with visitors, so it was possible to get up close to some of the work and take a detailed look.

The collection clearly contains a lot of social commentary. Although that's probably obvious with each piece, when the pictures are curated and displayed like this, it's powerful. On the way back, we discussed what future generations may think of the work as a description of our society. 

There is an apparent conflict between the anti-capitalism stance and the paid-for exhibition and gift shop, but I guess the stunts need to be paid for somehow. 

It's well worth visiting.