Banksy’s “Migrant Child” mural in Venice, which has been slowly fading away due to water damage, has been removed for restoration by authorities.
The mural first appeared in 2019 during the ongoing Venice Biennale. It portrayed a child in lifejacket holding a signal flare that was letting out pink smoke. After confirmation from Banksy, “Migrant Child” became a major tourist attraction among people visiting the Biennale and even after that.
However, due to the low height and proximity to water, the mural began fading away. By 2023, the bottom edges of “Migrant Child” had already faded and the damage was creeping upwards. This prompted the Italian culture ministry to propose a plan to remove and restore the mural. Finally, after 2 years, the plan went into motion.
On Wednesday, a team of art conversation experts removed the section of the wall of the palazzo that contained the mural. They would now aim to stop the damage and try to restore it to original form. The restoration project, while proposed by the Italian culture ministry, is financed by Banca Ifis, a bank in Venice known for promoting art and culture.
Also Read: Art Basel Miami Announces Exhibitors For 2025 Edition
However, the restoration plan was not without objections. When the proposal was first made in 2023, it was denounced by artists, fans, and art historians alike. The primary argument was that Banksy must have known about the possible damage to “Migrant Child”, and that the temporary nature of the work was the point behind it. This did not stop the authorities to go ahead with the restoration. The bank said that they had the go-ahead from people “close to” Banksy.
