The Mild Mild West

6/4/2022

Spurred on by our last Bansky spotting success, we're off to find another. This one will be easy to locate, right? It's in Stokes Croft, number 80 to be exact, and we've been to this area once before. Mmm. . . Turns out we still need the help of two young shop assistants in the local Salvation Army Thrift Shop and their google maps to pinpoint the exact building, We've already walked past it - but from the opposite direction. The mural is tucked behind the corner of the building while all around, other in-your-face, wondrous street art yells LOOK AT ME.

There's a veggie-friendly cafe in a courtyard at the foot of The Mild Mild West, a perfect viewing platform. It's lunch time and busy, yet we notice that none of patrons, not even one, ever looks up at it. Which leaves us wondering: they don't know it's a Banksy, they don't care it's a Bansky, they've seen it so many times before they're can't be bothered with a Banksy, or maybe they don't know who Banksy is. It's true that this dates back to 1999 when (judging by the look of them) most were still toddlers, perhaps it's just not relevant.

It's awesome to see through a tourist's eyes. Other people's mundane world becomes something truly special.