The London Zoo has taken action to preserve a new street mural by the elusive street artist, Banksy. The artwork, which mysteriously appeared on the zoo’s gate, shows a gorilla lifting up part of the gate, allowing birds and a sea lion to escape. It quickly became a hit with visitors, drawing large crowds.
The zoo’s chief operating officer said the zoo is incredibly grateful to Banksy for putting wildlife in the spotlight. Zoo officials called it a significant moment in the zoo’s history. After just five days, the zoo decided to remove the mural in order to preserve it. It covered the original work with a reproduction and added a sign, which reads, “Banksy woz ere.”
Banksy’s representative told The Observer that the mural, like his other recent works, is meant to be uplifting during tough times. It’s part of a larger series focused on animals.
The series has seen some pieces stolen recently, or removed for safekeeping. One of the pieces included a wolf howling on a satellite dish. The piece was stolen just hours after Banksy confirmed it as his work. Theft in the art world may not be new, but selling stolen artwork isn’t so simple.
The lack of a proper certificate of authenticity can cause a stolen Banksy to sell for far less than its legitimate market price. For that reason, earlier this year, two collectors took legal action against the artist.
The collectors argue that Banksy’s refusal to authenticate his works was harming the value of his art. Some experts believe that this situation is more about market manipulation than authenticity. A leading specialist in graffiti art believes Banksy will only verify works for certain individuals.
Many, including Banksy himself, argue that these works belong to the public and they shouldn’t be removed for personal or commercial use. To preserve that accessibility, Banksy rarely certifies his street pieces as officially his.
For now, the London Zoo will relocate this most recent mural to a safe place, in case of further thievery.
