The exhibition was held in an East London warehouse over several days in July 2003, and featured painted animals, including pigs in police colours, sheep in "concentration camp stripes", and a cow with Andy Warhol's face.[1][2][3]The New Yorker described the show as "a Barnumesque spectacle, staged at a secret location", and noted the inclusion of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as a chimpanzee.[4] The show also displayed vandalized classic oil paintings.[5] The exhibition was partly sponsored by the fashion brand Puma, who produced collaborative t-shirts and sneakers featuring 'Turf War' branding.[6]
The exhibition's location was not revealed until one day before it began.[7] "Turf War" marked Banksy's first gallery show in the United Kingdom.[8]
Reception
Banksy biographer Will Ellsworth-Jones regards "Turf War" as Banksy's "breakthrough" exhibition.[9][10]Artnet said the exhibition was "one of England's best -- and briefest" of the season.[11] The exhibition, which featured live animals, sparked protests by animal rights group. One activist chained herself to the railings surrounding a painted cow, despite approvals the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[12][13][14]Jamie Oliver attended the exhibition.[15]
In 2014 and 2015, Business Insider's Christian Storm and Jack Sommer mentioned the exhibition in their overviews, "25 of Banksy's Cleverest Works" and "Banksy's most clever works", respectively.[16][17] Some of the exhibition's artworks were put up for sale by Steve Lazarides in 2018.[18][19]
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