Hull’s River Bridges: Unravelling Banksy
The Open Bridges exhibition opened inside Scale Lane Bridge and we welcomed 2000 visitors on Saturdays at the end of 2017 and early in 2018.
As the exhibition was coming to a close a new street art work by Banksy titled “Draw The Raised Bridge!” appeared overnight on Scott Street Bridge.
GraffitiStreet.com published this feature referencing a possible link between the Open Bridges event with the Banksy art work on Scott Street bridge, in the last week of January 2018:
Banksy’s latest mural “Draw the Raised Bridge!” questions Freedom, Hull 2018
“A new mural by anonymous artist Banksy has appeared in Hull, UK. The artwork is a stencilled design on the Scott Street Bridge and depicts a child holding a wooden sword with the words written ‘DRAW THE RAISED BRIDGE!’
As always we aim to unravel Banksy’s murals … on first glance we notice the pencil attached to the end of the sword, which may be a reference to Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s words “The pen is mightier than the sword”. The saying emphasises that thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence.
“The pen is mightier than the sword… Take away the sword; States can be saved without it!”
Another possible correlation may be Banksy referring to the ‘Open Bridges Hull’ project which took place during Hull’s ‘Freedom Festival’. The project, curated by Rich and Lou Duffy Howard, made history by closing all of Hull’s thirteen bridges, consequently splitting the city in two and denying the freedom of Hull. For sixty seconds, all movement between East and West Hull was suspended. This created a debate about freedom and the impact of withholding freedom, the freedom of movement and the meaning of freedom today in the world.
The reuniting of the city was celebrated with the live world premiere of John Stead’s new musical work, ‘Moments in Time’.
Hull born politician and abolitionist William Wilberforce whose work to make slave trading illegal gave rise to Hull’s Freedom Festival and City of Culture Freedom Season.
As always the artwork is up to your personal interpretation.”
Donna Haden GraffitiStreet.com
Photographs copyright Syd Young (top), Banksy and Richard Duffy-Howard (right)
Recently, there’s been a lot of traffic to our original post, so we investigated other possible links and discovered an unusual coincidence. The phrase ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ was coined by playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 as Grafitti Street reference above. However in his play the quote was spoken by a famous 17th century French Cardinal, Cardinal Richelieu.
Peter Marshall >Re-PHOTO
Visit photographer Peter Marshall’s website to read his review of Hull’s River Bridges and Scott Street Bridge. CLICK HERE
>Re-PHOTO is Peter’s incredible record of his documentary photography and social commentary, click on the screen shot below and please take time to explore.
Rich and Lieu Duffy-Howard
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