Seventh Animal Artwork To Appear In London Claimed By Banksy
Banksy has confirmed that he is behind the latest artwork to appear in London, a mural featuring swimming piranhas inside a police sentry box. The piece, located on Ludgate Hill near The Old Bailey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, transforms the glass-fronted police box into what looks like a giant aquarium.
This is the seventh new artwork by the elusive artist to be unveiled across the city in the past week, all of which have featured animals in various forms.
The series kicked off on Monday with a goat on the side of a building near Kew Bridge, followed by two elephants touching trunks in Chelsea, and continued with monkeys hanging from a bridge in Brick Lane. By Thursday, a howling wolf appeared on a satellite dish in Peckham, followed by two pelicans above a fish shop in Walthamstow on Friday. A cat stretching on a billboard in Cricklewood rounded out the week on Saturday before being swiftly removed by contractors, sparking boos from gathered crowds.
Banksy’s latest work, however, diverges from his usual silhouette style, featuring more detailed and translucent images, which initially caused some to doubt its authenticity. But Banksy confirmed the mural was his on Instagram, adding it to his growing collection of animal-themed artworks in London.
The appearance of the piranhas has drawn significant attention, with crowds gathering to take photos, prompting authorities to install barriers around the piece. The City of London Police, who own the box, are now working with the City of London Corporation to decide how best to preserve the artwork. The police noted that they were alerted to the "criminal damage" by CCTV cameras and sent officers to inspect the site.
The police box itself has a history, originally installed in the 1990s as a security measure to prevent IRA attacks. It’s unclear what will happen to the artwork now, but the City of London Corporation has said they are exploring options to preserve it.
Banksy’s new series comes at a time when the news has been dominated by grim headlines, with some speculating that the artist is trying to bring a bit of cheer to the public. So far, he has not provided any captions or explanations for the works, leaving fans to interpret the meaning behind the animals.
This latest artwork follows Banksy’s recent high-profile pieces, including a migrant boat installation at Glastonbury and a mural on a block of flats near Finsbury Park, which was vandalised shortly after its appearance. Whether more artworks will emerge in the coming days remains to be seen, but for now, London is buzzing with excitement over Banksy’s latest creations.
