Graffiti in the white cube: Banksy’s works in BGC

THE CHALLENGING relationship between Banksy and museums has persisted over decades — echoing that of graffiti artists and elite art institutions in general — most recently finding its way to the Philippines. On May 14, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M) in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) opened an exhibit titled “Banksy Universe.” Following online backlash from Filipinos who quickly pointed out that the show is unauthorized, The M released a statement that, like many such exhibitions in museums around the world, “Banksy Universe” is not authorized or endorsed by Banksy. However, it features “a significant number of works that trace the trajectory of Banksy’s career, affording a closer look into the themes that preoccupy him, as well as the transformative power of art,” the museum said. Now open to the public, the exhibit at The M joins the list of possibly hundreds of other exhibits held in the graffiti writer’s name over the years that Pest Control, the organization that handles Banksy’s affairs, has declared unauthorized. Galleries and museums are “trophy cabinets of a few millionaires,” the elusive artist once said. But because Banksy remains anonymous, the ongoing struggle to enforce copyright and trademark laws over his art continues....