Lawsuit against Banksy-does the legendary street artist have to reveal his identity now?

A legal dispute could finally force mystery artist Banksy Two art collectors take legal action against the artist because he "refuses" to confirm the authenticity of one of his famous pictures

It has long been speculated and determined by his identity, but Banksy could be forced to reveal its real name when a dispute over a pressure from the deceased Queen Elizabeth , presented as a primacy decorated as a jewel, ends in court.

What is the lawsuit about?

The art collectors Nicky Katz and Ray Howse sue the company Pest Control by the graffiti artist Banksy, since she refuses to confirm the authenticity of the “Monkey Queen” .

The Pest Control website emphasizes that a certificate of authenticity is like a TÜV for the art world and ensures the value of a work of art. Banksy himself describes itself as “quality vandals” and his works achieve high prices.

A certificate of authenticity is crucial to achieve the maximum price when selling its works. Pest Control plays an important role in the market for Banksys, says The Guardian in a report .

Banksy's identity - an eternal puzzle

Banksy's true identity has long been a mysterious mystery that keeps the media and public in the spell. Various suspects such as Robert del Naja von Massive Attack, Jamie Hewlett from Gorillaz and Neil Buchanan were traded, but nobody could be clearly assigned to him.

Even when the Daily Mail him as Robin Gunningham , Banksy vehemently denied this. An interview from 2003 is the only friend in which he revealed his first name - Robbie . But the search for his true identity could destroy the mystery about himself and thus his popularity and influence the value of his art.

Katz and Howse have tried unsuccessfully to find out from Pest Control whether a print entitled “Monkey Queen” can be attributed to a limited edition of Banksy.

The collector Katz is outraged that the artwork "Monkey Queen" from Banksy, which he acquired for £ 30,000, was not properly checked. It has an extensive collection of Banksy works and estimates the value of the artwork at £ 55,000 to £ 70,000.

After three years of waiting without a clear answer from Pest Control, he plans to initiate legal steps against the company for breach of the contract. Katz calls for the necessary documents to validate the work and complains about Pest Control's inadequate service.

Validation without a certificate difficult

The art dealer John Brandler also expressed his disappointment with Banksy because he makes it difficult to validate his works without a certificate. This strongly influences the value of the works of art. In contrast, one would simply consult an expert with a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Banksy only certifies works for selected people, which is regarded as market manipulation.

The authentication of Banksys works of art is therefore complicated and questionable compared to other artists. Brandler emphasizes the importance of simpler validation of works of art without restrictions by the artist himself.

Is the star of Bky already in a descent?

However, Brandler found that Banksy's prices "significantly below the level of three years ago" . He emphasized the police car, which shows a vehicle raised on bricks:

Two to three years ago, it would have brought between £ 1.5 and £ 2 million. It was sold in Paris for 300,000 euros about a month ago. ”

Pest Control replied to the allegations:

Our authentication process is robust and thorough and sometimes lengthy. We have exhibited many thousands of authenticity certificates. "