Over the past nine days, Banksy created a series of animal-themed murals across London, featuring animals including a mountain goat, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, piranhas, and a rhinoceros.
The artworks have sparked theories about the messages Banksy might be conveying, including themes related to refugees, the Gaza conflict, and recent right-wing riots in the UK.
Authorities and the London Zoo have taken measures to protect the artworks, such as covering them with plastic and relocating them to ensure public visibility.
Banksy shared photos of all his murals on Instagram. The series has been a daily occurrence, generating speculation and attracting admirers, in contrast with his usual works being spaced several months apart.
Banksy has become one of the world's most renowned artists, with paintings and installations fetching millions of dollars at auctions, despite speculation about his true identity.
Two recent works by Banksy were vandalized – one stolen and one defaced with spray paint, with a video released by the BBC showing the moment of the vandalism.
The city council removed one of Banksy's works to preserve it, relocating it to Guildhall Yard for safe viewing. Banksy's representatives clarified that the intention behind the artwork is simply to bring a smile to people's faces, not to convey a deep message.
Sources: BBC, AP News, Sky News, Reuters, USA Today, Vertigo Político, Le Monde, CBC, Barron's, O Globo, France 24, La Vanguardia, Zócalo, Yomiuri Shimbun, Los Andes, ABC, El Universal, Infobae, Agência Brasil.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
