Elusive street artist Banksy has confirmed that a new sculpture in central London, depicting a man striding off a plinth with his face obscured by a billowing flag, is his work. The artist posted a humorous video on his Instagram account on Thursday, showing snippets of how the statue was erected in the dead of night.
Installation Details
The sculpture appeared in the early hours of Wednesday on a plinth on a traffic island in Waterloo Place, near Buckingham Palace. Before Banksy's official confirmation, locals and tourists had gathered to inspect the statue, assuming it was his work due to his signature scrawled at the base of the plinth.
Location and Context
The statue is positioned close to statues of King Edward VII (who reigned from 1901 to 1910), legendary nurse Florence Nightingale, and the Crimean War Memorial. While Banksy is primarily known for his spray-painted murals, this is not his first foray into sculpture. His first creations appeared in the early 1990s in his hometown of Bristol, southwest England, and he has since gained global recognition, with his paintings and installations selling for millions at auction.
Artist's Background
Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, is part of a tradition of street artists who view the undercover act of posting art in public as a subversive form of expression. His street art is often targeted by thieves and vandals, adding to its mystique and value.
