‘Nazi’ hate mail sent to Banksy art buyer
ONLINE ABUSE PUTS HIM OFF RETURNING PICTURE TO CITY
THE gallery owner who bought Nottingham’s Banksy mural says he has been called a “Nazi” by people in the city who have been sending him hate mail.
And John Brandler, who owns the Brandler Galleries in Brentwood, Essex, says the reaction has put him off considering returning the artwork to the city.
Mr Brandler purchased the Hulahoop Girl mural from the private landlord of the building in which the enigmatic artist painted the piece.
Banksy confirmed it was his in an Instagram post back on October 17 last year, after it mysteriously appeared on the wall of the Avi Hair and Beauty salon in Rothesay Avenue in the dead of night a few days prior. The building is owned by a private landlord - not the salon.
The sale of the mural has since sparked disappointment and anger from residents of the city.
Mr Brandler has now spoken to the Post to reveal he has received shocking messages of hate, which he says has deterred him from loaning the piece back to a city which is “out to get me”.
Some of the emails, seen by the Post, likened Mr Brandler to the Nazis.
“I lost over 70 relations in the concentration camps so to say I am a Nazi is hurtful,” he said.
“I know how welcome I am and that’s about as welcome as a fart in a lift.
“It was due for restoration. Why keep it for people who want to call me a Nazi and put me in prison?
“This one is costing me tens of thousands to restore it, because the Perspex on it has led to mould eating away at the paint.
“People on the internet lose all inhibitions, but there are consequences.”
Mr Brandler says the people who sent the hate mail have “made it clear they want to take it further”.
He says he has 13 other Banksy pieces in a museum in Italy and features 15 of his pieces in an exhibition in Switzerland, but says this is the first time he has received such messages after buying a piece of street art painted by the anonymous activist.
He added: “I do not want to be in a city where people are out to get me. “I’m scared of going out in my own country.
“It is just one of those sad things.”
Mr Brandler said the great and good of Nottingham had not grabbed the opportunity to take care of the piece and keep it in the city. He says it will appear in an exhibition in the future. The Beeston art scene has now offered to paint another piece in the area.
Why keep it for people who want to call me a Nazi and put me in prison?
John Brandler