According to the press release, “The Ghetto is a squat art concept store that opens for the month of December.It features some of the world’s finest underground artists and attempts to bring an even greater sense of disillusionment to the whole West End shopping experience. It exhibits work that has never been seen before, sells a range of affordable art, and produces some rather dubious novelty merchandise”
Conceptually, Santa’s Ghetto can be placed into Banksy’s wider modus operandi. The pop-up, from its choice of location to artworks, showcases the artist’s sardonic wit and anti-establishment views. With a strong anti-consumerist message (the name conjuring up disillusioned and downtrodden slums) the event sought to disrupt the established traditional gallery model and became more of a touring, experiential exhibition than classic gallery experience.
Thematically, the works created by Banksy can be tied to his, arguably, most prolific period. 2002-2007 saw that artist’s output increase as the public’s voracious appetite for his pieces increased dramatically. Iconic works that were once sold in the hundred of pounds now are worth tens of thousands if not millions. Jack and Jill, Kids on Guns, Grin Reaper, Girl with TV and many more have all become awe-inspiring and archetypal of Banksy.
The 2002 inaugural Santa’s Ghetto was held at The Dragons Bar in Shoreditch.
Returning in 2003, the exhibition was held in an abandoned store just off Carnaby Street in Central London. Pictures on Walls described the event as a “festive extravaganza of cheap art and related novelty goods from lowbrow artists and trained vandals.”
Seminal paintings included Love Is In the Air, Kids on Guns, Lenin on Roller Skates, Petrol Bomb, Winnie the Pooh, and Mosquito
2004 saw the pop-up appear in Charing Cross Road where two Crude Oils appeared for the first time. Famously, the Di-Faced Tenner also made an appearance.
The Westend was the location of choice for 2005 with the group exhibition being held in Berwick Street in Soho. Iconic works included Jack and Jill, Kate Moss, and Grin Reaper.
Oxford Street, the shopping capital of London, was chosen as the location for 2006.
The final edition of Sant’s Ghetto in 2007 moved outside of the UK to Bethlehem on the West Bank where Banksy executed some of his most politically charged works.
The legacy of Sant’s Ghetto cannot be understanded. Forgoing the traditional model, Banksy and Pictures on Walls created an iconic experience that has gone down in Street Art Folklore. Pop-ups, drops and secret locations are all now part of the mainstream from art to music, fashion to media. For more information and to buy Banksy prints or buy Banksy original artwork, contact Andipa at sales@andipa.com or call +44 (0)20 7589 2371,
Image Credit to Artofthestate and Banksy.Newtfire.