August 8th 2024.
In recent days, Banksy has been quite busy creating new pieces of art all over London. These include a goat perched precariously on a pillar with rocks tumbling below, two elephants peeking out of blocked windows, three monkeys swinging on a bridge, and a lone wolf howling at the sky. And the word on the street is that there may be even more of Banksy's unique creations to come.
So what's the motivation behind this sudden burst of creativity from the elusive artist? According to Paul Gough, an expert on Banksy and a professor at Arts University Bournemouth, Banksy may be working towards a major reveal or a grand piece that will surely make a statement. "Banksy is not one to rush things, usually leaving people guessing if a piece is truly his. But this time, he's making it clear from the start that these are his works," Paul shared with The Agency.
The first of Banksy's pieces appeared in Kew, west London on Monday, followed by two elephants reaching out to each other in Chelsea the next day, and another piece in Brick Lane in east London on Wednesday. The most recent piece was spotted in Peckham, south east London today. "One has to wonder how long Banksy can keep up this level of creativity and intrigue," Paul said.
In other news, there have been recent incidents of far-right thugs looting from a Sainsbury's and riots breaking out across the UK, prompting a "do not approach" warning for a man connected to the murder of a London bus driver. To stay updated on the latest happenings in the capital, check out The Agency's London news hub.
Paul Gough is no stranger to commenting on Banksy's work, and in 2022, his TikTok video went viral with two million views claiming to reveal the true identity of the anonymous artist. While Banksy did have a well-publicized residency in New York City in 2013, where he created one street art piece each day in October, these recent works in London are being announced by the artist immediately.
The first piece, which appeared on Monday, features a mountain goat balancing precariously on a pillar as rocks fall below. The second shows two elephants peeking out of blocked windows, and the third shows three monkeys swinging on a bridge. The latest addition is a lone wolf in Peckham, south east London. According to Paul, there seems to be a common thread in these works. "Banksy has used animals in his art before, but these ones seem to be more innocent and gentle, with the exception of the wolf. It's a change from his previous pieces," he noted.
Paul believes that Banksy's latest creations are inspired by the current state of the world. "With everything going on, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what he's trying to convey. This is why I think he's building up to a big reveal that will help us make sense of things," Paul explained.
The previous Banksy piece that appeared in London was in Finsbury Park in March, which makes this latest series quite significant. Banksy has also been known to launch art campaigns and series in August in the UK, such as his Spraycation series in 2021 along the east coast of England. However, it took some time for Banksy to confirm that these works were indeed his. "The fact that Banksy is not shrouding these pieces in mystery like he usually does suggests that he's working towards something bigger," Paul said. "The locations may not hold much significance, but they all seem to be in high or hard-to-reach places. One thing's for sure, Banksy plays by his own rules and we're all just dancing to his tune."
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