‘Hidden’ city Banksy art uncovered

● Works to be restored after being painted over

Three of Banksy’ s early works that were accidently covered with grey emulsion paint at the famous Arches Club in Glasgow 11 years ago are to be saved.

Argy le Street Arch es (ASA) is undertaking a fivemonth project to restore the work of the elusive artist in Glasgow, in partnership with London-based Fine Art Restoration Co (Farco).

His graffiti art regularly sells for tens of thousands of pounds.

But art aficionados were horrified when three of Banksy’s early works were accidently covered with grey emulsion paint.

Now 11 years on, three of the elusive artists’ murals at Glasgow’s famous Arches club are to be saved.

Argyle Street Arches (ASA) is under taking a five -month project to restore the three Banksy murals in Glasgow, in partnership with Londonbased Fine Art Restoration Co (FARCO).

As part of a visit to Glasgow in early 2001, Banksy’s ‘Peace is Tough’ exhibition, at The Arches in Arg yle Street, saw the artist leave three works inside the venue.

They are of Mona Lisa surrounded by a picture frame and, on her left, a gun-toting monkey sporting a tutu.

B et ween the pieces are the words, ‘Ever y time I hear the word culture, I release the safety on my 9mm.’ All three art works are in poor condition having been covered with paint in 2007.

Last year it was feared the works would be lost forever after administrators announced that financial restraints meant the artworks wouldn’t be restored.

The administrators - who took control of the venue in 2015 - said £8,364 had failed to be raised to save the works.

But now ASA and FARCO are now working together to save these important artworks for Scotland.

The Arches went bust after being left £500,000 in debt following the Glasgow City Council’s decision to impose a midnight curfew.

It came following the tragic death of 17-year- old Regane Maccoll at the venue in Feb - ruary 2014.

It was previously hoped the three wall-based pieces could be removed and sold to help the struggling club.

A report by administrators Campbell Dallas said despite investigations, it could not be determined what value the three art works would have, or whether there would be any interest in them.

FAR CO’ steam of inter national experts specialising in wall painting conservation will carefully remove the grey paint, while protecting and revealing the original artwork hidden underneath.

Arg yle Street Arches’ gen- eral manager S cott Taggar t, said: “We are delighted to be saving these rare artworks for the nation.

“We’re lo oking for ward to b eing able to have them on permanent and public display for the people of Glasgow, and Scotland, once again.”

Chris Bull, Technical Direc- tor at FARCO, said: “This is a hugel y exciting restoration project, and we’re ver y hap - py to be working with Argyle Street Arches.

“We’re bringing three hid - den Banksy pieces back to life, and in order to do this we need donations to be able to restore the artworks.

“By December 2018, donations permitting, we hope to have revealed all three sections. For each donation, each donor will receive an exclusive gift. And the more you donate, the bigger the gift.”

The range of gifts being offered to donors includes a limited edition boxed canvas to an official Banksy restoration poster.

Scott McCormick, owner of Argyle Street Arches, said: “It’s fantastic that the restoration can now begin, we’ve been planning the project for a long time.”

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