BAG PIECE OF BAGSY ARTWORK
Mystery artist leaving his mark at shops
H E’S the anonymous Welsh artist who models himself on Banksy and whose depictions of Rhondda landmarks are being etched on carrier bags in supermarkets across the valley.
Meet Bagsy – whose street artwork is etched in pen on Bags For Life which are then distributed randomly around supermarkets in the Rhondda.
The guerilla artist, who says their project “pays homage to the notoriety of Banksy and the accessibility of street art”, will be doing bag drops every weekend and urges the public to share any bags found on social media.
So far Bagsy one-off works of art have included familiar Rhondda Valley landmarks such as the Miner and his Family statue in Tonypandy, and the Our Lady of Penrhys monument, as well as such valley staples as Arriva Trains Wales and a sheep.
“Bagsy wants to share creativity with the world in the most unexpected of places,” said the artist, who much like his hero, Banksy, fiercely guards his anonymity. “We are encouraged to reuse these bags and are told they are bags for life. Is someone more likely to keep a bag for their whole lives if it contains an artwork by the emerging Bagsy?
“This project pays homage to the notoriety of Banksy and the accessibility of street art. I want to be a rebel with a cause.
“Bagsy wishes to make no political statement, Bagsy just wants to bring joy and excitement to the everyday.”
The artist, whose motto is ‘ Who’s bag is this carrier?” (sic) describes himself as “the alternative tourist campaign for the Rhondda valley”, and explained how the project works.
“Bags For Life will be dropped at supermarkets around the Rhondda area, bags will be specific to that supermarket and thus offering a suitable camouflage,” said Bagsy.
“Anyone that finds a bag may need to repurchase in order to obtain but they also may be found in the supermarket grounds and would then be free to all.
“Bagsy bags are illustrated with unique bespoke designs which are hand-drawn with biro, the forgotten craft. I hope people will love them as much h as Bagsy B enjoys making them.”
Bagsy said the designs that are chosen are inspired by the familiar surroundings of the Rhondda.
“Scenes are inspired by the Rhondda Valleys and are selected purely for their recognisability. I want to promote the area as graffiti shouldn’t create an eyesore.
“We accept these bags for life and t the supermarkets which a adorn the locations of coal m mines of days gone by. Let’s ju just make them a little more p personal.” The real identity of Banksy, the world-renowned graffiti artist and political activist, has long been the subject of much debate. The satirical street art combining dark humour with graffiti executed i in a distinctive s stencilling technique has been featured on streets, walls and bridges of cities throughout the world.
And much like Banksy, Bagsy is determined to remain anonymous.
He said: “Bagsy will remain anonymous until anonymity is broken.”
Until then, he added: “We’ll keep a welcome in the hillsides.”
Find out more about Bagsy’s work at: www.twitter.com/ iambagsy