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Wednesday 20 March 2024

To tell meaningful stories



New Banksy mural defaced just days after appearing

The huge green painting on the side of a block of flats in Hornsey Road, near Finsbury Park, was first spotted on Sunday.

But photos show that just three days after it first appeared, white paint has been thrown over the mural.

Islington Council told Sky News: "In recent days, the piece has created a real buzz in the borough and beyond, and we very much want it to stay.

"This is a really powerful piece, which highlights the vital role that trees play in our communities and in tackling the climate emergency.

"Culture is a powerful way to tell meaningful stories, and we very much hope that the piece, which is still fantastic, will now be left alone for people to enjoy."


I thought that throwing paint at artworks was a radical way to tackle the climate emergency collapse crisis. A positive act in other words. Maybe it's the colour of the paint which is important, but it's so difficult to keep track of these things. 

Perhaps Banksy knows which paint colour is appropriate for tackling the climate last decade to do something catastrophe. Perhaps not.

10 comments:

DiscoveredJoys said...

"Culture is a powerful way to tell meaningful stories"

It's also a neat way of passing off rubbish as unassailable truth. I wonder which applies here?

Perhaps a council funded Fast Response Anti Graffiti (FRAG) team, perhaps staffed with people doing community service, could be launched to remove or paint over such daubings?

James Higham said...

"the vital role that trees play in our communities"

By cutting them down ... yyyeeessssss.

A K Haart said...

DJ - it would be refreshing to see a hard-nosed approach like removing such daubs. It would tell a meaningful story about pretentious twaddle, not dissimilar to the story of the Emperor's New Clothes.

James - and burning them, as I'm doing now.

Sam Vega said...

Banksy said "I returned to finish my picture by adding some white blossom, and now the idiots at the council have fenced it off! How am I ever going to get the birds painted on?"

Tammly said...

They forgot the soup, they forgot the soup!

A K Haart said...

Sam - it certainly looks unfinished so you may be right. He won't be pleased, he'll probably paint something rude on the council offices. They may need more fences.

Tammly - good point, tomato would have been about right for a splash of colour.

johnd2008 said...

And yet, a Council not far away has told a Chip shop owner to remove a mural bearing the Union Flag. Double standards?

A K Haart said...

John - double standards at least I'd say, but councils are like that.

Bucko said...

How do you vandalise vandalism?

A K Haart said...

Bucko - another good point - how do they tell the difference?