Robert Clarke: Seven years with Banksy

During the christmas holidays I read Will Ellsworth-Jones: The man behind the wall (gifted to me by my daughter). A good read, and I got insight into Banksy's work, life and development as an phenomenon in the art world. This Easter I picked up a new book from the store, written by a friend of Banksy, Seven years with Banksy by Robert Clarke. I looked forward to spending some relaxing holidays reading about the elusive Banksy. Opposite to Ellsworth-Jones, who never interviewed or met Banksy, Clarke claimed friendship to Banksy, and hanged out with him in New York, London, Glastonbury and Bristol. At least, periodically for seven years (1995 - 2002). The early years of Banksy's creative period. The cover of the book even have a picture of Banksy (from Behind).

The book is an easy read, and tells more about the author him self than Banksy really. Robert (the author) names Banksy as Robin through out the book. Robert was the first person who bought a picture from Robin for ten pounds in 1998. Well, I dont know how much is worth now, but I was a bit disappointed that he didn't print the piece in the pictures sections of the book. Just the signature on the backside. Robert seems to be a guy who has been all over, travelling, know a lot of people at the "alternative scene", working as a doorman in clubs, and drive around in his Harley. Both are from Bristol, but Robin seems to come from an entire different culture and it's a bit difficult to understand the nature of their friendship, except that they both have connections to the "alternative scene" and occasionally hang out together. We also learn to know that the picture on the cover, is taken of Clarke's mum while Banksy painted a piece on Glastonbury. She probably possess other photos too. "Who could say 'no' to someone's mum?"

Banksy painting at the Glastonbury Festival in 1999. It's not Clarke's mums photo

 Well, at one occasion described in the book, Robin approach Robert with the question of going public, and Robert gives him reasons for not doing that. My guess is that Banksy wanted check out Robert and his thoughts around this question, and not advice. By this Banksy secured his anonymity. Banksy have not commented on the book as expected (Ellsworth-Jones book gives insight to why he doesn't and won't).

I was kind of disappointed when Robert Clarke did'n publish the piece he bought in 1998 for "a tenner" in his book, but it seems to be available on the net.

The book reinforce the enigma around Banksy in descriptions of how he dress, move and behave in different settings. Banksy is pictured as a "happy go vandal" but also a person with ideas and plans and with a deeper side to him that the author don't catch or get insight to. Robert admits this and that's maybe the problem with the book: The title implies a more intimate insight, some more deeper sense of how Banksy relate and what kind of friend he is. Well, the reader gets something, some good stories.

Roberts girfriend Johanna plays a minor part in the book, as the girlfriend back in sweeden. Many pictures in the book is credited her, also the pictures of Paradise Quarry in Somerset. Robert tells that Robin express his liking for Johanna and how important that this is for Robert. My guess is that Johanna is more involved in the story than the book implies.

Johanna Köhlin-Clarke's picture

The book "seven years with Banksy" doesn't give the same insight into Banksy's work or even Baksy as a person as Ellsworth-Jones' book, but give us some good stories from a person that did meet Banksy in person late 90's and beginning of 2000 on several occasions. He even participate in some of the "raids" Banksy did in London and Somerset, just hanging around with no spray can or artistic abitions him self. He's just in it for the fun and now he is making a buck on this book. Probably is this the first book of this kind from people who have "hanged out" with Banksy or known him. I'm pretty sure that Robert and Robin don't "hang out" anymore, and I'm sure that Banksy have read the book and had some laughs behind his suspicious interest when it comes to revealing who he is and his identity.