Is the new mystery statue in London a Banksy?

Is the new statue in London a Banksy?

A new sculpture, seemingly in the style of the mysterious street artist whose identity has never been officially confirmed, has appeared in central London.

The statue was first spotted on Wednesday in the historic Waterloo Place outside the Athenaeum Club. It has been put up near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial.

But what do we know about the piece? Is it really a Banksy?

Let’s take a closer look

What we know

According to the BBC, the statue is of a suited man walking forward off a plinth. The man is holding aloft a flag that is also covering his face.

Waterloo Place is around 450 metres from Downing Street. It is near statues of Edward VII, Duke of York, The Mall and Buckingham Palace. The area is also known for its posh shops and gentlemen’s clubs.

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Banksy’s works appear out of the blue and disappear soon afterwards. They are believed to be political in nature.

Is it really a Banksy piece?

Banksy has now confirmed that the statue is his work. Banksy usually does so by putting up images of his installations on Instagram. His representatives confirmed to the BBC that the statue was installed in the early hours of Wednesday. The artist posted a video of it to his Instagram account on Thursday.

Banksy in December created a mural of two children lying on the ground in west London. The image shows two children in Wellington boots, coats and winter bobble hats, with one of them pointing skyward.

This installation has now been confirmed as a Banksy. Image courtesy: X

In September, Banksy unveiled a mural he called “Royal Courts of Justice London.” The fresco depicted a judge holding a gavel, seemingly set to bring it down on a prone protester holding a blood-spattered placard. Some speculated that this was a crackdown on anti-Palestinian protesters in the UK. The country has designated activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The mural was quickly covered up by the authorities – leading many to wonder if they had missed the point of the piece.

Banksy in 2024 unveiled at least nine animal paintings around London. The series of paintings, which included a goat, elephant, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans, ended with a gorilla at the entrance of the London Zoo.

Bansky’s identity uncovered?

Once an annoyance to authorities who viewed him as a vandal, he has become a British national treasure. In one survey, Brits rated him more popular than Rembrandt and Monet. In another poll, his “Girl with Balloon” painting was voted the favourite piece of artwork Britain has produced.

Some critics believe Banksy’s anonymity is as important to his work as stencils and paint. The British press has run many articles over the years that tried to deduce his identity. Still, Banksy and his inner circle won’t talk about it. Some have signed non-disclosure agreements. Others keep quiet out of loyalty, or fear of crossing the artist, his fans and his influential company, Pest Control Office, which authenticates his work and decides who gets the first chance to buy Banksy’s latest pieces.

After 30 years of secrecy, a Reuters investigation claims to unmask Banksy as Robin Gunningham. AFP

A recent investigation by Reuters has claimed that Banksy is Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born artist. The outlet, which followed up a theory previously proffered by the Mail on Sunday in 2008, claimed that it has a handwritten confession allegedly signed with Gunningham’s real name.

Banksy’s company, Pest Control, said the artist “has decided to say nothing.” His long-time lawyer, Mark Stephens, wrote to Reuters that Banksy “does not accept that many of the details contained within your enquiry are correct.” He, however, did not elaborate.

Stephens wrote that Banksy for years has “been subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behaviour.” Unmasking Banksy would harm the public, too, Stephens added.

Working “anonymously or under a pseudonym serves vital societal interests,” he wrote. “It protects freedom of expression by allowing creators to speak truth to power without fear of retaliation, censorship or persecution – particularly when addressing sensitive issues such as politics, religion or social justice.”

FAQs

1. Has Banksy confirmed the London statue is his work?

Yes, Banksy has done so on his Instagram account.

2. Where exactly is the mystery statue located?

The statue has been installed at Waterloo Place in central London, close to Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.

3. Who is Banksy?

A recent investigation by Reuters has claimed that Banksy is Robin Gunningham, a Bristol-born artist.

With inputs from agencies