Banksy Backs Viona: The Penis On The Drawbridge…

// December 14th, 2010 // b-street // b-uncut

Art has always been seen as having political undertones, but there is no doubting the motivation behind Vionas street art….

The anarchic performance art group have been wreaking havoc around Russia with their very public displays of dissension aimed at, what they believe to be, corrupt policing. From public sex and staged gay hangings, recently they have been flipping police cars and even painted a giant penis onto a drawbridge in St Petersburg. The latest of these stunts coincided with the international St Petersburg Economic Forum, with the erected bridge facing the FSB security organisations headquarters. Eye catching publicity indeed.

All of this publicity has landed two members of the group in a St Petersburg jail, not a very nice place to be. Fear not though, British street artist Banksy has come to the aid of the controversial group. Banksy has offered all proceeds from the sale of a new run of 175 prints to the jailed duo and their group. “Each print is £450 but if it’s any consolation Banksy is donating all royalties to the Voina artist co-operative in Russia, two of whom are currently residing in a St Petersburg jail,” reads a statement on picturesonwalls, where registered users were randomly drawn to buy the prints.

A step too far or utterly justified, the nature of Vionas art is sure to shock and divide opinion in equal measure. If faced with similar corrupt conditions, it would be hard to argue against the tactics Viona have became famous for. One thing is for sure, painting a giant penis on a drawbridge opposite a government building is a sure way to court publicity!

What do you think of Vionas art? Too far or fair enough?