Unfortunately the next development, which still blights the lives of many, has been the sudden increase in contamination of the product as dealers desperate to protect margins distribute all kinds of derivative versions of the pure original street art. The end user on the street these days has very little chance of perceiving whether the “piece” they acquire has any pedigree or longevity and the confusion has lead to unscrupulous sellers flooding the market with laser print versions of the pure art, which they call “giclee”.

Until a global and holistic approach is adopted to deal with the fakers and the derivative, NY’s gain will perpetuate this “street” version of art’s status as the laughing stock of the critical and discerning public.