A Banksy artwork was removed in London soon after the artist shared the image of the new artwork.
The mysterious artist Banksy first shared the image of this artwork on his Instagram page on December 22nd, 2023. The artwork is essentially a metal traffic stop sign. However, it also features three military drones against the backdrop of a STOP sign. The work appeared beside a street in Peckham, South London.
Soon after Banksy shared the image with his 12+ million followers, there was a flurry of discussion in the comments. Many debated the objective of the artwork, with some theorizing that it was an appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Many others, however, remarked that the artwork might soon be stolen. Indeed, around 12:30 pm on the same day, two unknown individuals used bolt cutters and a bicycle to remove the artwork. Witnesses told the press that the individuals initially tried to remove the artwork with their bare hands but failed to do so, ultimately resorting to the bolt cutters.
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The year 2023 had been a highly publicized one for Banksy, who has become one of the most well-known names in the Art World. He has been frequently in the news; for instance, a large seagull mural was painted on a house that astonished its residents with the 250 thousand dollars cost of removal, or the demolition of a 5-century-old farmhouse that also had a large mural by Banksy painted on it. The mystery around the artist’s identity also reportedly came to an end when an archival BBC interview allegedly revealed his face.
