Lars Karlsson: CapacityNow

In a new international survey, Sweden is ranked at the top of the list – and is considered to be the country with the best reputation in the world.

According to a new survey called Country RepTrak from the consultancy agency Reputation Institute, Sweden is listed as the world’s best-rated country.

In order to arrive at this, 58,000 people in the G8 countries have been ranked countries by reputation. A total of 55 countries fought for the first place. With its top ranking, Sweden has climbed the list with the previous third placement.

One has ranked the main areas of economics, governance and appealing environment. Sweden is perceived as ethical and to be a country with good transparency, low corruption and with the most progressive social and economic policies.

“Sweden stands out as experiencing a generous, equitable and environmentally conscious country with high morals,” commented Nicolas George Trad of the Reputation Institute who conducted the study. Sweden is at the top, together with other Scandinavian and European countries. Finland ended up in second place, Switzerland in third place followed by Norway. Even New Zealand, Australia and Canada ended up among top ten.

Here is a link to the publication: Survey Country RepTrak 2018

We have a very important week ahead of us.

This is the moment when both sides need to find a new compromise solution for the Irish backstop and the principles for future relations.

…even if Banksy is ‘more than one person’. I started to enjoy and get interested in Street Art about ten years ago when I was out travelling. Since then I have collected Street Art pictured and I have also posted my ‘StreetArt-of-the-Day’ every day on Twitter the last 5 years.

The king of Street Art is Banksy, an anonymous England-based street artist, vandal, political activist, and film director. His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Banksy’s work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.

The original StreetArt painting

Banksy displays his art on publicly visible surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop pieces. Banksy does not sell photographs or reproductions of his street graffiti, but art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder.

Now Banksy has performed this year’s art coup in London. One of his famous motifs was clubed at an auction.

The Sotheby version

Shortly thereafter, the image began to be shredded in a paper shredder, which was built into the bottom of the frame. The painting that kust been bought at Sothebys for 1 million GBP, self destroyed.

When the last bid was climbed, the artwork began to stir in astonished spectators. The artpaper was automatically shredded slowly through a built-in document shredder in the bottom edge of the frame.

Soon afterwards Banksy posted an image of Instagram with the text “Going, going, gone”.

It seems like we have become ‘Banksyd’, said Alex Branczik, Head of Sotheby’s Department of Modern European Art.

It is unclear whether the joke has ruined or increased the value of the artwork.

To Financial Times the auction firm stated that discussions are taking place between them and the buyer, whose name he would not disclose.

This is so Banksy.

You can watch the shredding here: Banksy picture shredded