Banksy has confirmed that he is the artist behind a new piece of artwork featuring swimming fish, which has been unveiled on a police sentry box in the City of London. This marks the seventh animal-themed artwork that Banksy has claimed credit for this week. He shared a photo of the piece on his Instagram account at 1 pm.
Unlike his previous dark silhouette images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, and a cat, this new artwork features translucent spray paint on the glass windows of the sentry box, creating the illusion of a giant fish tank.
The City of London Corporation has stated that they are working on options to preserve this new artwork after Banksy confirmed his authorship by posting an image on Instagram. A police officer was seen taking a photo of the piece, and a man in a City of London high-visibility vest was spotted capturing pictures of the artwork.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Spooner from the City of London Police confirmed that they are aware of the criminal damage to the police box and are in contact with the City of London Corporation, the owners of the box.
Photographer Avi Yasitli, who has visited all of Banksy’s art pieces this week except one, believes that the animals depicted in the artworks symbolize the idea that the city has turned into a zoo. Meanwhile, artist Daniel Lloyd-Morgan, who has painted most of Banksy’s pieces this week, finds the new collection uplifting for Londoners and appreciates the buzz surrounding Banksy’s work.
A local resident who visited the artwork expressed her admiration for its charm and subtlety, noting that it wasn’t in her face but had a certain appeal.
In related news, Banksy’s sixth piece, featuring a stretching cat on an advertising billboard in Cricklewood, was removed for safety reasons. The removal caused disappointment among onlookers, who booed as the artwork was dismantled.
Despite the removal of some of Banksy’s artworks during the week, the artist’s new animal-themed series has garnered significant attention and appreciation from the public. Each piece tells a unique story and adds to the vibrant street art scene in London.
