- Banksy releases the animals at the London Zoo
Banksy Sets Animals Free: The mysterious street artist has placed his ninth animal-themed artwork in a row at the London Zoo. A gorilla appears to be holding up a roller shutter at the entrance, allowing several animals to escape, as seen in a photo from Banksy's Instagram account.
A seal and birds have already made their escape, with three more pairs of eyes peeking out from the gap. The BBC reported, citing Banksy's team, that this marks the end of the latest animal series that has kept London on edge for over a week.
This isn't the first time Banksy has chosen a zoo as his canvas. In 2001, his graffiti appeared in the penguin and giraffe enclosures at Barcelona Zoo. The artist has often used animals in the past, but they are usually rats.
Fans on Instagram praised the action, with one comment reading, "The great escape." However, a zoo spokesperson told the PA news agency that the art brings joy to people, just like the zoo itself. Banksy has yet to comment on the meaning behind the motives.
The first artwork appeared on August 5, with a mountain goat on a wall in southwest London's Kew district. Daily, another motif followed: two elephants peeking out of windows, three monkeys swinging on a bridge, a wolf howling in a satellite dish, two pelicans snapping at fish at a fish-and-chips shop, a big cat stretching on an empty billboard, and a school of piranhas swimming in a glass case at the police station.
The latest piece in east London's Charlton district features a rhino seemingly about to mount a broken-down car. A traffic cone on the car's hood completes the illusion.
Art in Public Spaces Vulnerable to Vandalism
Art in public spaces is susceptible to vandalism. A masked man defaced the rhino just hours after its unveiling. A video published by the BBC shows the man spraying a day on the animal's underside.
The action lasted only a few seconds before the man disappeared without a word, ignoring frustrated calls from onlookers asking, "Why are you doing this?"
Previously, unknown individuals had removed the satellite dish with the howling wolf. Two works were removed out of fear of vandalism and theft: the piranha case was initially cordoned off and then moved to a safe location, according to the City of London.
The big cat stretching luxuriously was also reportedly removed for security reasons after a short time. The owner has promised to donate the artwork to an art gallery.
Other visitors to the zoo were excited to see the new artwork, expressing their delight on social media platforms. Despite the occasional acts of vandalism, the public appreciation for Banksy's animal-themed series remains high, showing the impact of art in fostering community engagement.
