If we were having coffee, I would tell you about my visit to a Banksy exhibition. Banksy is an anonymous street artist who, in the early 1990s, began spray-painting his trademark stencil designs around Bristol, SW England. He is an anti-establishment figure whose works encompass, among other topics, politics, war, and consumerism.

I have long been a fan of Banksy’s work, so I was delighted to discover that there would be an exhibition of his art in Villefranche de Lauragais, a twenty-five minute drive from us, in the direction of Toulouse. The exhibition was held in a former supermarket with works displayed on pallets. I thought this was the ideal setting for a Banksy exhibition.

The exhibits on display were acquired by a private collector over a period of thirteen years. In 2020, he decided to sell the entire collection, but this would mean taking a risk that it would be divided and lost. To prevent this, Thierry Angles purchased the complete collection with the intention of sharing it freely with the general public. This is how the Modeste Collection was born.

The steering committee, set up to organise the exhibition, took a year to bring the event to fruition. This was the first time the Banksy Modeste Collection, launched in 2021 and displayed in many French cities, came to a town with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. It proved to be a success with more than 20,000 spectators in a fortnight.

I went with the intention of making a photographic record of my visit. However, I was so focused on the exhibits that I ended up taking fewer photos than I had planned!

The exhibition was free to visit, embracing the idea that ‘access to culture for all is not an option.’ Donations were welcomed, and were to be distributed locally, nationally and internationally to those in need.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Banksy Modeste Collection, which intrigued, challenged and amused me in equal measure. Are you a fan of Banksy and Street Art, or is it not your cup of tea?!

This post is linked to Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer.

Discover more from Fancying France

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.