Latest news with #PestControlOffice
Metro
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Banksy reveals new work featuring lighthouse and mysterious message
A new Banksy artwork has been revealed by the mysterious graffiti artist. The mural is of a lighthouse shining with the words, 'I want to be what you saw in me' printed on it. The shadow of a nearby bollard has been sprayed on the pavement, as if the shadow it is casting on the concrete wall behind it is the lighthouse. Banksy uploaded two photographs of the work to his Instagram account today, including one showing two elderly dog walkers looking at it. The post was not accompanied by a caption or location. But one person seemingly saw the piece last week, writing on X: 'Do it Banksy style… somewhere in Marseille!' What the mural means is unclear, with Banksy famously being tight-lipped about what his art symbolises. But social media users had their thoughts, as Jacob Witzling commented: 'Give light and people will find the way.' Another Instagram user said: 'In our image-driven society, we often confuse our identity with our appearance. 'Banksy transforms an ordinary post into a lighthouse to demonstrate that even the most ordinary things can shine if we choose to view them differently.' While J van Wouwe, a photographer, said: 'Living up to the expectations of someone you look up to. Someone who saw the guide you could be, not being one in a dozen, but truly special.' This is the first fresh piece by Banksy, the secretive street artist known for his anti-authoritarian and anti-war work, that he has posted since August. A photograph of his 'Madonna with Child', posted in December, was originally displayed at a private exhibition organised by the Pest Control Office in London in February. More Trending Over the summer, the artist sprayed nine animal-themed works across London, including a goat, elephants, swinging monkeys, a howling wolf, a stretching cat, pelicans, piranhas, a rhino and a gorilla escaping London Zoo. Many of the pieces featured themes of confinement and escape, experts told Metro, with many expecting the elusive artist to unveil a 'grand' piece. Instead, however, he went silent once again. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Mystery over 'disgusting' bollards painted like stubbed-out cigarettes MORE: Google redesigns logo for first time in a decade – but how different is it? MORE: Reworked lion statue is 'so ugly' a bag has been put over its head
The Guardian
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Who opened her first classroom in Rome back in 1907? The Saturday quiz
1 Which father and son footballers both have more than 100 international caps?2 In 1907, who opened her first classroom in Rome?3 Which mythical beast had a human face, lion's body and scorpion's tail?4 What becomes the Padma within Bangladesh?5 Used in the 14th century, the pot-de-fer was an early type of what?6 Whose work is sold and authenticated by the Pest Control Office?7 Which African country is named from the Shona for 'houses of stone'?8 What list currently ends with oganesson?What links: 9 Buckthorn bark; brazilwood; cochineal; madder; safflower?10 Platypus (0); human (1); dolphin (2); ostrich (3); cattle (4)?11 Brownie; Frankenstrat; Lucille; Red Special; Trigger?12 Aktau; Baku; Makhachkala; Rasht; Türkmenbaşy?13 Albert Square pub; Bombay Sapphire bottle; first postage stamp?14 Big Bounce; Big Crunch; Big Freeze; Big Rip?15 Asparagus; Burgh; Burrow; Lindisfarne; Mersea? 1 Peter and Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark).2 Maria Montessori.3 Manticore.4 Ganges river.5 Cannon.6 Banksy.7 Zimbabwe.8 Periodic table of the elements (highest atomic number).9 Natural red dyes.10 Number of stomachs (or stomach compartments).11 Named guitars: Bonnie Raitt; Eddie Van Halen; BB King; Brian May; Willie Nelson.12 Cities on the Caspian Sea: Kazakhstan; Azerbaijan; Russia; Iran; Turkmenistan.13 Featured images of Queen Victoria.14 Theories of the origin and fate of the universe.15 Tidal islands in England: Cornwall; Devon; Hampshire; Northumberland; Essex.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bansky Is Fighting a Greeting Card Company for Control of His Trademark
Banksy, the anonymous British graffiti artist, risks losing the right to his own name in a landmark case brought against him by a greeting card company. The company is called Full Colour Black and it sells cards emblazoned with images of street art, including works by Banksy. Its owner, Andrew Gallagher, argues that the artist has failed to use his 'Banksy' trademark. As a result, he's calling for it to be cancelled for 'non-use.' More from Robb Report An Infamous Banksy Mural Is Being Sold Along With the Building It Is Painted On Banksy's Stolen 'Girl With Balloon' Artwork Was Just Recovered After a London Gallery Heist British Artist Marc Quinn Has a New Show at London's Kew Gardens. Here's What to Expect Banksy denies this, claiming that he has used the trademark to sell his work and merchandise. The case will play out in court in April during a tribunal at the Intellectual Property Office. It is likely to be one of the first times Banksy and his team stand up and speak publicly as they give evidence. In a rare public statement, Banksy said, 'A greeting card company is contesting the trademark I hold to my art, and attempting to take custody of my name so they can sell their fake Banksy merchandise legally.' Previous statements and announcements from the artist have come via his Instagram account or through his Pest Control Office company. Gallagher has reportedly already thrown one lawsuit at Banksy for defamation in another case. It involves an Instagram post by the artist that allegedly encouraged his followers to steal from the GUESS clothes store on Regents Street in Central London after it promoted an apparent collaboration. The Sun tabloid newspaper quoted a source as saying, 'They will have to stand up like a ventriloquist's puppet and say Banksy's words in the tribunal.' 'Banksy may be in court but we won't know who he is,' they said. An employee from Pest Control Office will try to prove in court that the artist has sold merchandise between 2017 and 2022. The firm charges to authenticate Banksy images and says it sold several items including clocks, mugs, T-shirts, clocks, and a handbag through his online store. The artist set up a pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in 2019, but it never officially opened to the public. It displayed his merchandise such as the stab-proof vest worn by British rapper Stormzy on stage at Glastonbury. Banksy has previously criticized commercialism. He even one wrote that 'copyright is for losers.' However, his team said this does not give the public 'free rein to misrepresent the artist and commit fraud.' 'He's had the registrations for years and hasn't used them,' another source reportedly told The Sun. 'Everyone and his dog uses Banksy descriptively, when you see Banksy describing something you don't necessarily think it comes from Banksy, it doesn't function as a trademark anymore. He hasn't sold things with the word Banksy, he doesn't do spin off and merchandise.' They added that the artist owning the trademark is 'problematic for the industry [because it] allows Pest Control to flex their muscles in a way that is potentially unfair for competition.' Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
