The work will have been even more ephemeral than Valentine’s Day: Banksy on Tuesday unveiled a mural on the theme of domestic violence in the south-east of England, quickly compromised by zealous cleaning agents.
In this mural by the mysterious street artist, in the seaside resort of Margate, you could see a housewife in 1950s or 1960s style, disfigured by a black eye and a broken tooth, while the legs of a man protrudes from an old freezer, very real, leaning against the wall.
On the floor around them were scattered objects, such as an old frying pan, a broken chair or an old bottle.
The work, titled valentine’s day mascarawas claimed by the artist on his Instagram account on February 14, a day considered in many countries as the feast of lovers.
Amanda Barden, a 56-year-old resident interviewed by AFP, said she found the work “fantastic”. “It’s a real subject that people can talk about domestic violence. The reference to Valentine’s Day also concerns people, it will open the dialogue, ”she believes.
But at midday men posing as agents working for Thanet District Council, which administers the town, removed the old chest freezer and other items, making the message of the artwork difficult to understand. marital violence.
Questioned by AFP, the municipality explained that the device had been removed “for security reasons because it was located in the public space”.
“The freezer has been put away and will be put back as soon as it has been secured. We will contact the owner [du mur] to discuss ways to preserve the artwork,” she explained.
Premeditated action?
The images showing the removal of these objects aroused indignant reactions on social networks, while on the spot, passers-by expressed their astonishment and incomprehension.
“People were like, ‘Stop, stop, you know that’s a Banksy right?’ “, says Laura Holden, a resident of Margate who attended the scene. She wonders if this intervention of the municipal services was premeditated: “perhaps Banksy had planned everything from the start”.
In 2018, the artist from Bristol, in the south-west of England, caused amazement around the world by premeditating the disappearance of a work: his canvas. The Balloon Girl had partially self-destructed during its auction, thanks to a crusher concealed in the frame.
Banksy intended to denounce the “commodification” of art through this performance. Re-listed under the new name “Love is in the Trash” (Love is in the bin), it was finally bought for 18.6 million euros (about CA$26.5 million), a record for the artist.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Banksy has given his support to the Ukrainians. In January, he put up for sale 50 serigraphs intended to raise funds for the benefit of civilians.
And he had posted in mid-November on his Instagram account a video compiling his stenciled works in the country, including that representing an individual wearing a gas mask in Gostomel, thus confirming to be the author.