Banksy artist: Has his true identity been revealed again? Here's the story behind the headlines

Well, here we go again: The true identity of Banksy has supposedly been cracked for good. At least, until the next 'revelation'. No sooner does a new piece pop up in London or a shredding incident send shockwaves through the art world than the speculation about the person behind the spray can fires up once more. The headlines are coming thick and fast: we finally know who's hiding behind the myth! Or do we? Welcome to the never-ending guessing game about the most famous artist nobody knows.

The perpetual hype about the man behind the can

Everyone knows them, those iconic images: the rat with the placard, the girl with the balloon, the flower thrower. Banksy brought street art from the underground into our living rooms. But who is this artist who has captured the world's imagination for decades? Was it always the supposed Bristol schoolboy Robin Gunningham? A collective? Or someone else entirely? The rumour mill is churning, and every supposed unmasking becomes a global media event. And us Brits? We're right in the thick of it, after all, countless Banksy-style canvas prints hang in living rooms from Hackney to Hampstead, and kids are trying their hand at graffiti in parks and underpasses up and down the country.

This time, it's a "groundbreaking investigation" that claims to lift the veil – or so say the usual sources. Apparently, a team of data analysts and journalists have gathered enough clues to name him definitively. You know the drill. Back in 2016, the rumour mill went into overdrive when a supposed scientific study 'proved' Banksy was Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack. There was quite a fuss back then, until it all fizzled out. And now we have the next chapter. So, we'll soon be confronted with another new name – and just as quickly, the debate will die down again until the next artwork appears. It's become something of a running gag in the art world.

Would Banksy be Banksy without the secret?

Let's imagine for a moment the identity was actually confirmed: would the magic disappear? Part of the appeal is surely the anonymity. It turns Banksy into a blank canvas for our longing for a kind of Robin Hood of art, who wittily and sharply puts his finger on society's sores. Banksy is more than a person – he's an idea. And that idea thrives on uncertainty. At the same time, the hype surrounding the person is a turbo-boost for the market: as soon as there's any "identity" news, prices for artworks – and of course for merchandise – skyrocket. That Banksy-inspired funny graffiti artist t-shirt or the men's Banksy-style pullover hoodie with rat motif suddenly become hot property again. Young people across the UK wear them proudly – a statement for street art and against the mainstream. And of course, many have that graffiti artist Banksy-inspired t-shirt tucked away in the wardrobe, ready for the next street art stroll.

From the illicit wall to finding your own style

No matter how many "revelations" we still see, Banksy has inspired an entire generation of artists. Anyone wanting to pick up a spray can themselves these days will find countless opportunities. Alongside classic graffiti workshops, books like "Graffiti School: A Student Guide and Teacher's Manual" are booming. It sounds almost like a textbook – and that's precisely the beauty of it: what was once dismissed as vandalism is now taught as a serious art form. From that illicit wall in Bristol to the Banksy-inspired t-shirt in a local boutique – the evolution has been rapid. And it shows that Banksy has achieved far more than just spraying walls. He started a movement.

• Banksy motifs: ever-popular: Whether on canvas, hoodie or t-shirt – the images are timeless and adorn thousands of homes.
• Graffiti as an art form: More and more young people are getting into "style writing," inspired by courses and books.
• The thrill of the forbidden: Banksy thrives on the tension between subversion and commercial success.

Conclusion: The hunt goes on – and that's a good thing

Will the latest "revelation" be the final one this time? Highly unlikely. Banksy's identity will keep us guessing for a long time yet, and that's perfectly fine. Perhaps the artist's greatest masterstroke is keeping us all perpetually guessing. Until next time, when another 'proof' emerges. We in the UK will be keeping an eye on it – and in the meantime, we'll be casually wearing our Banksy hoodies or hanging a new canvas print in the living room. Because in the end, it's not the name that counts, but the art. And there's bound to be another rumour along soon.