Banksy’s New Masterpiece: Police Booth Transformed into a Piranha Aquarium in London
Banksy has revealed his seventh animal-themed artwork in London, transforming a glass police box in the city center into a piranha aquarium. The enigmatic artist confirmed the piece was his with an Instagram post on Sunday at 1:00 PM.
The Animal-Themed Mural Series
Banksy’s series of works, which has captivated London over the past week, includes silhouettes of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, and a cat. Each day, for seven consecutive days, Banksy unveiled a new piece, surprising the capital’s residents.
The design of the piranhas, however, stands out from the others, which are all characterized by black silhouettes on light backgrounds. This time, the artist chose a different approach to depict the fierce fish inside the police booth.
The Reaction of the Public and Authorities
The City of London authorities acted swiftly to examine the artwork and are currently evaluating options to preserve it. Two police officers were seen photographing the mural and reported that the work had been spotted by the area’s surveillance cameras.
“We are aware of the artwork on the Ludgate Hill police box. We are currently working on options to preserve it,” said the spokesperson for the City of London Corporation.
Previous Works and the Removal of Some of Them
Some of Banksy’s works in this series have been removed shortly after being revealed. For instance, on Saturday, a mural of a cat stretched out on a billboard in Cricklewood was dismantled by workers who feared it might be vandalized. Similarly, a drawing of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham was stolen less than an hour after it appeared.
A Message of Joy
According to the organizational support of Banksy, Pest Control Office, the series is not intended to send deep messages but rather to offer a moment of joy and surprise to the public during a time often filled with grim news. The works were conceived to elicit a smile and to remind us of the importance of creative play, rather than destruction and negativity.
Banksy’s series, with its enigmatic animals scattered throughout London, continues to capture the attention and imagination of anyone fortunate enough to encounter these unique works.