Kentish Express Ashford & District
Is it art or vandalism?
As you stroll along Whitstable high street, the Queen can be spotted hitching a lift on a hoverboard as she walks her corgis.
The Catman work is one of Kent’s most iconic pieces of “street art” and has become a landmark in the town, attracting the attention of visitors far and wide.
Yet the debate about whether graffiti should be considered art or vandalism continues to rage in the county.
For some, it blights the area and some councils have taken a hardline approach to tackling it.
But for others it is considered to be a legitimate form of expression and can even help contribute to the local economy by attracting visitors.
For example, a giant image by world-renowned street artist Banksy appeared overnight in Dover in 2017 and was quickly embraced by the people of the town.
The huge mural near the docks depicted a workman removing one of the stars on the European Union flag.
Banksy soon confirmed he was responsible and the work was valued at £1 million by expert collector John Brandler.
Despite the enormous price tag, some said the real value is in what it would bring to Dover - including the possibility of opening up a street art museum and the increased number of tourists that would stop to see it.
But, to the town’s horror, it was painted over last year.
The appearance of a giant ‘OK’ tag on a shuttered Kent building painted gold has revived the age-old debate - is graffiti art or vandalism?
Brad Harper takes a look at the county’s most famous works and explores the divisive reactions they provoke...
Brentwood art dealer and Banksy expert Mr Brandler says the piece would have helped regenerate the area.
“Banksy does street art to be in specific places and they add to the interest and culture of the place,” the Brandler Galleries owner said.
“Whether you like them or not they at least get a reaction.
“The worst art in the world is a bunch of flowers which you stick on your wall and nobody looks at it. It’s better to have a green circle with an orange triangle, call it modern art and have every single person say ‘I don’t like that’ - at least you’re getting a reaction.
“This is what Banksy is all about.”
Mr Brandler says he harboured plans to bring a street art musuem to Dover - with the Bansky piece as a focal point, but they never came to fruition.
“What I find very sad is you have a beautiful high street in Dover, 11.5 million people per year going through there and you don’t give them any reason to stop there,” he adds.
“You have an amazing cash flow going past your door.”
He makes comparisons to the success of the Turner Contemporary
in Margate, which he says has contributed to an increase in visitors and revenue for the town.
Another Banksy along the coast in Folkestone also proved popular.
Art Buff appeared in 2014, depicting a woman wearing headphones peering over a plinth.
It was painted on the side of Palace Amusements arcade in Payers Park, owned by the Godden family.
But it was vandalised and only six weeks later was removed and sent to America. It was put up for auction in Miami, with any proceeds planned to go to the charity set up in memory of Jimmy Godden, who died in March 2012.
After it failed to sell, a legal battle over its ownership saw the painting placed in the hands of the Creative Foundation, now Creative Folkestone, in 2015, who brought it back to the town and placed the valuable work in storage.
More recently in the town, what would typically be described as a ‘tag’ appeared on the outside of a shuttered shop in the Creative Quarter in Tontine Street.
A giant black ‘OK, has been sprayed on the front of the HOP Projects CT20 building, which has been completely gilded in gold-leaf.
Called ‘OK’ (Untitled Action), it was produced under lockdown by Mexican artist Stefan Bruggemann and commissioned by the not-for-profit arts organisation.
Stefan said of the work: “The meanings of artworks are fluid, often changing depending on