Former UWE boss reacts to viral video claiming he’s mysterious Bristol street artist Banksy

Watch this Banksy expert’s amused reaction to a viral video claiming he is in fact the Bristol street artist mastermind.

Former vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England Paul Gough recorded his reaction to a viral video drawing parallels between himself and the elusive artist.

The conspiracy theory is that Paul, who is now the vice president of Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), is in fact Banksy has been spreading around campus for some time and has now made it onto social media.

A representative for the university said: “We are not aware of where the theory first originated, but it had been circulating for quite a while prior to release over social media.

“We have not seen any evidence of the theory shared online before.

“Reactions have been very interesting, especially as others have joined in on the theory, sharing extra details and observations about Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Gough and his connection to Banksy.

“Some of these being entirely new points and suggestions.”

The video outlines Gough’s comings and goings across the world and how his travels have uncannily been similar to where Banksy’s murals have cropped up.

Gough, who has a master’s degree in Fine Art, is also suggested to have the skills to pull off Banksy’s work.

He was also the former vice-chancellor of UWE, a city known for its array of Banksy paintings not to mention where the artist is said to have been born.

The funny video shows Gough agreeing to almost every single point made and laughing along with everything in the video.

Paul said: “I’m over sixty, and I was born in Plymouth, though I moved around all over UK and Europe, as I grew up in a military family.

“My current book on Banksy looks at the artist and the art, rather than the anonymous and notorious Robin Hood prankster, who tends to dominate the headlines.

“It’s easy to become fascinated by the anonymity of the artist. But my interest has always been in the art itself. The way the images mix a memorable design with immediate and meaningful messages.

“It’s tempting to consider Banksy as a man, but it could just as easily be a woman, a non-binary individual, or a group of people who wilfully protect each other’s identity.

“I’m always struck by how many people respond to the topic of Banksy. It certainly strikes a chord.”