We have a duty to make outdoor ads more Banksy. And less bland

Outdoor advertising could be a national treasure on the high street if it took more inspiration from street art, argues Posterscope’s Alex Marks. National treasure/rogue street artist Banksy recently hit the headlines with new artworks across the capital, all of which had an animal theme. From a rhino humping a broken-down car to monkeys swinging from a bridge. It’s fair to say there’s been a mixed response from people. Contractors who were ordered to take down one of the pieces were booed by members of the public, while another, a wolf howling on a satellite dish, was promptly stolen. It appears the public generally has a favorable response, the authorities less so. Putting images on things in a public place is a practice that has been part of our cultural heritage for tens of thousands of years. From cave paintings to street graffiti, humans have been prolific artists since we walked upright. We respond to our environment and our experiences therein and that is reflected in our art. So, while people during the Stone Age would paint pictures of themselves hunting bison or having sex (there wasn’t a lot else going on), modern street artists might make political statements, mark...