It seems like people have been trying to work out the true identity of Banksy for as long as time itself. As the Bristol-based artist started getting more famous/notorious in the 2000s, the only question people have been dying to know to is who the controversial, anonymous, artist really is. Unfortunately, one artist has been ruled out: Niel Buchanan.
Yesterday the internet was abuzz with the rumour that the man famous for hosting kids TV show Art Attack from 1990-2007 is responsible for the satirical graffiti that pops up all over the world.
Like all rumours nowadays, it started with a tweet that went viral. 'Just heard that it’s rumoured Neil Buchanan is Banksy,' they wrote. 'If true, it’s the funniest s*** ever. Aintree’s finest… This is straight in the believe without question category.' They continued, explaining that the theory was given credibility by the fact that Buchanan, like Banksy, is a musician - a former member of heavy metal band Marseille - and 'art has followed in cities of shows he’s done allegedly'.
Neil has now had to deny the claim, after he received loads of questions about it on his website. The statement on his website reads: 'We have been inundated with enquiries over the weekend regarding the current social media story. Unfortunately this website does not have the infrastructure to answer all these enquiries individually, however we can confirm that there is no truth in the rumour whatsoever.' But then, isn't that what Banksy would say anyway?
There are two prime suspects when it comes to who is believed to be Banksy - Robert Del Naja, also known as 3D, a founding member of trip hop band Massive Attack and Bristol artist and former public school boy Robin Gunningham. (In a 2003 interview with Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian, Banksy was described as 'white, 28, scruffy casual—jeans, T-shirt, a silver tooth, silver chain and silver earring. He looks like a cross between Jimmy Nail and Mike Skinner of the Streets.' )
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