Anonymous street artist Banksy confirmed he is the creator of a mysterious statue that appeared in central London. He released a video clip showing its secret installation at night, symbolizing a man in a suit walking blindly into the future, his vision obscured by a flag.
Banksy, the globally mysterious graffiti artist, confirmed via his personal Instagram account that he is behind the new sculpture recently unveiled near Pall Mall in central London, which has become a focal point attracting large crowds.
The statue stands on a traffic island in Waterloo Square, close to historic monuments of King Edward VII and Florence Nightingale. The piece depicts a man in a suit standing on a stone pedestal, stepping forward into emptiness. His hand holds a flag that waves and wraps around his head, completely blocking his sight, making it appear as if he is unknowingly walking into danger. The name "Banksy" is roughly scrawled at the base of the statue.
Banksy's personal spokesperson told AFP that the artist secretly installed the statue in the early hours of Wednesday, choosing this spot because it "still had some empty space." The video shows heavy machinery being used to place the statue under cover of darkness.
The artwork has received mixed reviews. Some visitors see it as political satire, with a 23-year-old student commenting, "The suit screams politician," believing it responds to the rising wave of global nationalism.
However, not everyone likes it. Banksy's own video shows an elderly man walking by who bluntly says, "I don't like it at all; the original statue over there looks better."
This unveiling comes just one month after investigative reports by Reuters attempted to identify Banksy's true identity as either Robin Gunningham or David Jones, a 52-year-old British man, though Banksy has never officially confirmed this.
Westminster Council expressed excitement about this new addition enhancing the city's public art scene. They have taken initial steps to secure the statue so the public can continue to view it, with no plans to remove it at this time.
. AFP