London Zoo becomes latest to remove Banksy street mural for protection

Jack Aylmer

THE LONDON ZOO HAS TAKEN SOME UNEXPECTED ACTION TO PRESERVE ITS NEW ATTRACTION, A MURAL BY THE ELUSIVE STREET ARTIST, BANKSY. 

THE ARTWORK, WHICH MYSTERIOUSLY APPEARED ON THE ZOO’S GATE, SHOWED A GORILLA LIFTING PART OF THE GATE, ALLOWING BIRDS AND A SEA LION TO ESCAPE. IT QUICKLY BECAME A HIT WITH VISITORS, DRAWING LARGE CROWDS.

 THE ZOO’S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SAID THEY’RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO BANKSY FOR PUTTING WILDLIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT, CALLING IT A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN THE ZOO’S HISTORY. JUST AFTER FIVE DAYS, THE ZOO DECIDED TO REMOVE THE MURAL IN ORDER TO PRESERVE IT. THEY’VE COVERED THE ORIGINAL WORK WITH A REPRODUCTION AND ADDED A SIGN REDIN, “ BANKSY WOZ ERE.”

BANKY’S REPRESENTATIVE TOLD THE OBSERVER THAT THE MURAL, LIKE HIS OTHER RECENT WORKS IS MEANT TO BE UPLIFTING DURING TOUGH TIMES. IT’S ALL PART OF A LARGER SERIES FOCUSED ON ANIMALS, WHICH HAS SEEN SOME PIECES STOLEN OR REMOVED FOR SAFEKEEPING. ONE OF THOSE PIECES INCLUDED A WOLF HOWLING ON A SATELLITE DISH, WHICH WAS STOLEN JUST HOURS AFTER BANKSY CONFIRMED IT AS HIS WORK. THEFT IN THE ART WORLD IS NOTHING NEW. 

AS TEMPTING AS BANKSY MIGHT BE FOR ART DEALERS, SELLING STOLEN ARTWORK ISN’T SO SIMPLE. THE LACK OF A PROPER CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY CAN CAUSE A STOLEN BANKSY TO SELL FOR FAR LESS THAN ITS LEGITIMATE MARKET PRICE.

WHICH IS WHY EARLIER THIS YEAR, TWO COLLECTORS TOOK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE ARTIST. THEY ARGUED THAT BANKY’S REFUSAL TO AUTHENTICATE HIS WORKS WAS HARMING THE VALUE OF HIS ART. SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THIS SITUATION IS MORE ABOUT MARKET MANIPULATION RATHER THAN AUTHENTICITY. A LEADING SPECIALIST IN GRAFFITI ART BELIEVES BANKSY WILL ONLY VERIFY WORKS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

MANY, INCLUDING BANKSY ARGUE THESE WORKS BELONG TO THE PUBLIC AND SHOULDN’T BE REMOVED FOR PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL USE. TO PRESERVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY, BANKSY RARELY CERTIFIES HIS STREET PIECES AS OFFICIALLY HIS.

BUT FOR NOW, THE LONDON ZOO IS KEEPING THE MURAL IN SAFEKEEPING.

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