Banksy revealed his real name in a 2003 interview, says BBC Radio

A new detail about the identity of the anonymous, politically minded street artist known as Banksy has been revealed thanks to a rediscovered interview from 20 years ago.

BBC Radio recently discovered a lost interview that the painter did with journalist Nigel Wrench in 2003, in which Banksy was asked if his name was “Robert Banks.” The mysterious creator responded by saying: “he’s Robbie.”

Wrench, who worked for the British broadcaster from the 1990s to the 2000s, came across the recording among his belongings after listening to the BBC Radio series “The story of Banksy,” which premiered over the summer and chronicles the artist’s rise and influence.

The 2003 interview was conducted while Banksy’s “Turf War” exhibition, which he described as a “celebration of vandalism,” was on display in a warehouse in east London.

On a special Tuesday episode of “The Banksy Story,” Wrench told the show’s host, James Peak, that he had no reason to believe Banksy was lying about his name.

“No one from the Banksy empire has ever contacted me. Nobody ever contradicted that,” Wrench said. Later in the interview he added: “If it wasn’t his real name, why wouldn’t he just say, ‘Yes, it’s Robert Banks’? “I thought [after he said his name was Robbie] which was absolutely his real name.”

Wrench later described Banksy as a “young man in a hoodie” who had an “incredibly relaxed,” “totally engaged,” and “authentic” vibe.

Elsewhere in the 2003 repeat interview, Banksy delved a little deeper into his philosophy as an artist.

“I am interested in justice. Who has the right to judge others? said the British painter. “If you’ve ever been in trouble with the justice system, then you become very skeptical about everything, so I guess I like to turn it around a little bit. “I’m interested in finding out who the good guys really are.”

He rejected the idea that he is too political a person.

“If you think about anything about your life for more than a second, then you have to realize that the shoes you wear are made by someone with a pathetic amount of money and that the coffee you drink means that someone somewhere in the world made it.” is doing”. finished,” she said. “If you ever think for a second, then yes, apparently that makes you more political than most people. “I don’t know, I guess people are lazy.”

Banksy began his career in the Bristol, England graffiti scene, tagging buildings with politically scathing pieces that criticized police violence, Western imperialism, and consumer capitalism. She frequently resorts to elaborate, clandestine pranks to irritate the high-end gallery and museum scene that, while making it richIt has also served as a complement to his satirical work.

Times staff writer August Brown contributed to this report.