It’s been to 42 locations around the world, including the east coast of Australia, and finally, The Art of Banksy: Without Limits will open in Perth at the end of May. Though it may seem otherwise, the exhibition is neither organised nor endorsed by the famously elusive artist, who prefers not to disclose his identity, but is based on the holdings of passionate Turkish Banksy collector Kemal Gürkaynak and his partner. The two own over 150 works by Banksy, with their originals included in the show, along with replicas. 

The exhibition is expected to be on show for four months, with the option of another one, at the Northbridge Centre, a stone’s throw from the Art Gallery of WA on Beaufort Street, Perth with the interior of the building undergoing changes to accommodate the show. Banksy’s exhibitions in traditional gallery spaces are few and far between. Previous exhibitions have been held in venues such as warehouses, shop fronts, restaurants and other makeshift spaces. His disdain for the secondary art market is seen in his screen print Morons, depicting an auction in progress. Banksy is not represented by a gallery or institution. Purchase of his new work is only via his Pest Control agency website, where certificates of authenticity are also provided. 

Banksy’s work grew from the UK’s underground graffiti scene in Bristol. By 2000 he had switched to stencils for speed of use in the illegal placement of his artworks in public places, and his darkly humorous, politically motivated, prophetically poignant works gained momentum – and value. In the following years his works appeared without warning or fanfare in public locations all over the world. Complete walls where his work appeared were removed and sold, and with works selling for incredible sums, the inevitable forgeries appeared. 

Anti-war, anti-unfairness and highlighting outright ridiculousness in the world, Banksy is also known as a philanthropist. In support of nurses during COVID in 2020 for instance, he donated Game Changer, depicting a young boy holding up his nurse doll wearing a face mask, while hero dolls, such as Batman lay in a bin. The work sold for £16.8 million with proceeds used to support the wellbeing of staff at NHS University Southampton Hospital in Hampshire.

Speaking from Istanbul, Gürkaynak, who heads Muse Marketing and Entertainment, the company behind the exhibition, of which he also curator, says he first came across Banksy’s work around 2010 and began to follow his progress. “I think he’s intelligent. He’s evolved more than every one of us,” he says. In answer to why he developed the exhibition, Gürkaynak says he lives a couple months a year in New York, a couple months in Paris and mostly in Istanbul, but is unfortunately surrounded by the countries Banksy underlines in his artwork. “Especially what we are facing from suicidal bombs to the refugee problem and too many terrorism attacks,” he says. “What I’m doing is to create an awareness of how he is underlining the problems we are facing.”

In Istanbul, Gürkaynak says he sees refugees every day. Millions of refugees are aiming to reach Europe through Istanbul, but, he says, up to half are dying in their quest to cross the Mediterranean. Part of the exhibition space is devoted to the Louise Michel Foundation which he donates to. Privately funded by Banksy, the Foundation purchased a high speed lifeboat (later decorated by Banksy) providing emergency rescue in the Mediterranean. 

In all, 180 artworks are included in the show, including originals, prints, photos, sculpture and digital installations, interestingly reveal how Banksy’s practice has evolved over decades, and a documentary gives an insight into his life and work. The exhibition is engaging, despite the replication of some works by Gürkaynak’s team which no doubt will have many in the arts balking.  

The burning question is what Banksy thinks of the exhibition that’s clocked up 2.3 million ticket goers around the world and has Gürkaynak had any comment from him? “I wouldn’t say a word about it,” he says, maintaining the wall of secrecy endemic to Banksy’s persona. There is no doubt Gürkaynak is a Banksy devotee, and his collecting pattern is narrow. “I only invest in his artworks,” he says. “I’m not very good at other arts.” 

“At the beginning I know that he didn’t like me,” says Gürkaynak. “I mean I wouldn’t like myself because it looks so capitalist what I’m doing and like I’m trying to leverage, but after he understood my age – I’m 60, and I don’t need to make money, who my family is and all that stuff, and the fact that I’m investing my money to create an awareness of what he’s doing, for the last four or five years, I think we respect each other. And I come from a marketing background, and so this is who I am.”

Gürkaynak says if you wanted to see more than 50 original artworks by Banksy, you’d have to fork out for plane tickets around the world and knock on Leonardo DeCaprio’s door, or Tony Blair’s or Janet Jackson’s to see their Banksy’s. “Instead of spending that time and money, I’m charging you $40 to experience one and a half hours of his work. That’s why he understands me – and what I’m trying to do.”

He says Banksy’s work unites people with ideas and values that can change the world for the better. “Our mission is to present the truth about his art and to carry his powerful message into the world.” 

The Art of Banksy: Without Limits is on show at the Northbridge Centre from 28 May. For tickets visit feverup.com