The graffiti artist who vandalised Banksy’s mural on Vyse Street has made headlines
In early December, Banksy created a new rendition of art next to the Jewellery Quarter Railway Station in Birmingham. The piece featured two of Santa’s reindeer pulling a real-life homeless man on his bed. The man, who has been identified as Ryan, was asleep on a bench nearby.
The culprit who vandalised the artwork is a 25-year-old that goes by the name of Hers. There was substantial public speculation after news got out that he grafitied over Banksy’s work. In a photograph taken by an onlooker, Hers was seen sitting on the bench at the scene with a can of red spray paint in hand. Shortly afterwards, he shouted “Shall I tag it?” to by-standers, before jumping the barrier on-site and spraying two red noses on both of the deer.
Some people condemned Hers for his actions online, saying he had spoiled an important piece of artwork worth millions of pounds. However, others praised him for his free-thinking and stated Banksy’s artwork was a form of vandalism in itself.
Hers, from Quinton, hit back out to critics after he said he had only offered minor alterations to the artwork because he thought it needed a ‘subtle change.’ He also said he did it as a form of retaliation against the amount of money that was being used to protect the mural, instead of raising awareness of the homeless community in the area.
To continue his essential work of protesting for rough sleepers in the city, Hers has now created his own artwork for auction. It depicts a homeless man looking up at two red dots in the sky, which he has named ‘Seeing Red.’
When asked for his opinion about the media attention Banksy’s original work, has received, Hers said: “It should all be about the homeless issue which was Banksy’s aim. That’s why I decided to create my own canvas work linking into the Bansky mural Christmas theme and homelessness.
“I am auctioning off the canvas on Ebay, and everything I make will be handed to homeless charities in Birmingham.”
When the reindeer mural first appeared at Vyse Street, it was almost cleaned off by Network Railway staff in a moment of confusion. Dennis Culey, a member of the clean team at the railway station, said he took a huge sigh of relief when it was unveiled the mural was by Banksy. It meant that he would not have to spend the majority of a Monday morning washing the huge work off of a brick wall. His primary thought was: “I’m glad I didn’t.”
The artwork was verified as being created by Banksy when he posted it to his Instagram account with the caption ‘God Bless Birmingham.’ The work has since been covered by a huge Perspex sheet to protect it from further damage. Network Rail is planning to sell Christmas Cards with the mural stamped on the front at the station, in a bid to raise money for those without a home in the city.
By Manisha Bhanot
