Banksy statue
| Banksy statue | |
|---|---|
| Picture of Banksy statue depicting a man in a suit holding a large flag in front of him that obscures his vision as he steps off the plinth. | |
| Map | |
| Artist | Banksy |
| Year | 2026 (2026) |
| Medium | Fibreglass or resin |
| Subject | A man in a suit blindly walking off a plinth while holding a flag |
| Location | Waterloo Place, London |
| Coordinates | 51°30′25′′N 0°07′56′′W / 51.5070°N 0.1323°W / 51.5070; -0.1323 |
A statue by Banksy was installed at Waterloo Place in London, in 2026.[1] [2] [3] It depicts a man in a suit holding a large flag in front of himself as it blows back in his face, obscuring his vision, as he steps off the plinth on which he is standing.[3] Commentators have noted the placement of the work near statues and monuments commemorating British imperialism such as that of Edward VII and the Crimean War Memorial.[4]
Description
[edit ]In the early hours of the morning on 29 April 2026, the statue was installed in Waterloo Place near St James's in London. Passersby noticed that the plinth of the statue had Banksy's signature inscribed on it.[5] After the artist posted a video of the installation and the statue on 30 April, the BBC confirmed that the artist was responsible for the statue.[6] [7]
The statue shows a man wearing a suit holding a large flag in his right hand as he walks forward off of the plinth on which he is standing. The flag is shown blowing back into his face, obscuring his vision.[1]
Response
[edit ]Commentators noted the placement of the work close to monuments to British imperial and military history.[6] [8] The London art dealer Philip Mould said "what's rather clever about it is he's got the proportions perfectly right for the space".[1]
Representatives of Westminster City Council told the BBC that they found the work to be a "striking addition to the city's vibrant public art scene". The council added that they had taken steps to protect the statue by installing fencing, but that for the time being it would remain accessible to the public.[6]
A representative of Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said that Banksy's work "always draws great interest and debate, and the mayor is hopeful that his latest piece can be preserved for Londoners and visitors to enjoy".[1]
Critic Alex Dale wrote that the sculpture has the "aesthetics of a garden-centre ornament and the moral complexity of a Catchphrase clue".[9]
See also
[edit ]
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d Levenson, Michael (30 April 2026). "New Banksy Statue Causes Stir in Central London". The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ Harvey, Lex (1 May 2026). "Banksy's new flag-wielding London statue satirizes blind patriotism". CNN . Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ^ a b Tsioulcas, Anastasia (2 May 2026). "Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work". NPR . Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ^ Horton, Helena (30 April 2026). "Banksy confirms statue of man blinded by flag in London is his work". The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (30 April 2026). "Banksy signature appears on mysterious new London statue". The Independent . Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ a b c Foster, Aurelia (30 April 2026). "Banksy confirms he is behind new statue in central London". BBC . Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ Low, Harry (1 May 2026). "How Banksy installed a statue in central London". BBC . Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Kubrick, Rachel (30 April 2026). "New Banksy statue appears in central London". The Art Newspaper . Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ Dale, Alex (5 May 2026). "Banksy's art for the lanyard classes". Spiked . Retrieved 6 May 2026.
External links
[edit ]- Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Banksy statue at Wikimedia Commons
