Fans of Banksy were thrilled when, earlier this month, the renowned street artist announced his first show in 14 years.
His ‘Cut and Run’ exhibition is being hosted in Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art until 28 June and features stencils used in some of Banksy’s most famous pieces.
I knew it would be in demand but it’s been even more popular than I ever imagined. Since it opened visitors have flocked to it, tickets have sold out astonishingly quickly and it has stayed open as late as 5am on weekends to accommodate the sheer volume of people keen to catch a glimpse of the items on display.
It’s great to see such a well-known artist picking a Scottish location for their exhibition as the knock-on effect on the city’s economy is sure to be significant. However, I was surprised to hear that we’ve got the Duke of Wellington statue to thank for Banksy’s decision.
The artist has dubbed the Duke (or more specifically the Duke with a plastic traffic cone on his head) as his favourite work of art in the UK and the reason he chose the city for this exhibition.
Most Scots will be familiar with the image of the orange cone sitting atop the historic statue by now. The tradition of sticking a cone on his head is said to have begun in the 1980s, and no matter how many times it’s removed by the authorities, locals have continuously replaced it over the last 40 years.
Incredibly, the image of the monument – cone and all – was even named by Lonely Planet as one of only 10 Scottish entries included in the top 1,000 sights in the world.
Until now, I’d never really considered the addition of the cone as a work of art, but the parallels between this and Banksy’s anonymous, outdoor artwork are clear to see.
This also got me thinking about the ways in which businesses and artists alike have now taken the image of the cone and used it in their products and promotional materials over the years, turning it into an unlikely icon of Glasgow.
Just last year, bespoke interiors company Lakes and Fells released a wallpaper celebrating Glasgow’s vibrant art culture, prominently featuring the cone alongside Irn Bru and Tunnock’s Teacakes branding. The owners said they were inspired to create the ‘Gallus’ design, which retailed for a cool £125 a roll, after seeing the monument on a visit to Glasgow.
We also saw national cinema chain Vue commission an artwork to celebrate the opening of its Glasgow St Enoch venue two years ago, depicting the Duke of Wellington (and obligatory cone) in a recliner chair with popcorn and a speech bubble saying “switch aff your phone!”.
Then there’s Albany Clothing – a sustainable, Glasgow-based apparel brand – which adopted the Duke and his cone as the logo on their garments. Founders Mike and Joe said they wanted visitors to take it as a “joyful and long-lasting memory of their visit to Glasgow.”
And it’s not just well-established corporations who have cottoned onto the popularity of the cone. One quick online search pulls up hundreds of results showing independent retailers using sites like Etsy to sell their very own cone-themed pieces, such as charms for bracelets, ornaments and t-shirts.
It’s ironic that something which technically started as an act of vandalism has become so well-loved and synonymous with Scotland’s largest city. Edinburgh might have the Castle, but Glasgow has the cone, and I completely understand why so many brands have latched on to the tongue-in-cheek visual and used it in their merchandise to showcase the sense of humour Glaswegians are so well known for.
Some might argue the traffic cone is vandalism, not art – but let’s remember some have said exactly the same about Banksy’s work.
I hope the Banksy exhibition continues its roaring success in the coming days as well as encouraging more artists to the roaring success it’s already achieved in its first week and that the move will encourage more artists to consider hosting major exhibitions in Scotland so we can reap the financial rewards of the associated increase in tourism.
Dundee’s tech-led dockside future keeps booming
The amount of investment flooding into the Dundee waterfront over the past decade has been excellent to see. Since planning began for its revival back in 2006, the Tayside city has become a key destination for promising businesses.
This boost has been particularly notable within the tech sector, with companies flocking to relocate to the city as successful ventures like the V&A Museum, which is estimated to bring £75 million each year to the economy through tourism, continue to thrive.
With consistent tech success stories from video game developers and biomedical and space technology businesses alike, this revival has proven to be hugely positive for Dundee – seeing even the likes of telecoms giant BT setting up a base there.
It’s exciting to see that this revival is continuing with the announcement of a £3 million investment into the Dundee dockside from Construction firm Chroma Developments.
This funding will further evolve the Water’s Edge development, creating an events space, 17,500 square feet of new Grade-A office space and a visual effects technology lab.
Dundee has spent a good number of years putting itself on the map by becoming a blossoming tech industry hub and economy booster for Scotland, so it’s great to see the future of this growing city looking so bright.
It Made Me Laugh
Scottish chippies get the star treatment
Is there anything more rewarding than a cheeky fish supper from a quality local Scottish chippy?
I don’t think so, and clearly I’m not alone, as last week saw the grand debut of the first ever Scottish Chippy Awards.
The ceremony recognised fish and chip shops from all corners of the country for excellence and for playing a key role in their communities. From deep fried delights to fantastic fish suppers, it’s a brilliant way to celebrate keystone businesses at the heart of our communities.
So there you have it – you don’t necessarily need a Michelin star to earn the right to call your eatery “prestigious” and I love the fact these awards celebrate the traditional Scottish takeaway of choice. Congratulations to all the winners!
It Made Me Weep
Workers losing sleep over financial stress
A recent poll from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed eye opening stats which show one in five Scottish workers are losing sleep due to financial worries.
It’s obviously an extremely challenging time for many, and I feel there’s a role more business owners could be playing to ensure workers get a better night’s sleep.
Whether it’s a more open dialogue between employers and employees about their financial concerns or signposting them to some of the services available to help people manage their finances and debt, these steps could help employees feel better supported in the workplace.
