Notorious street artist Banksy took to his social media channels on Monday morning to confirm his latest mural—which shows a judge bludgeoning an activist with a gavel. The mural along the length of the wall of the Queen’s Building at the court complex has created a storm. Its political implications are still prompting vigorous debate, as is the hard work by the court’s staff to hide it.
On social media, Banksy posted a video of the work in action, featuring a barrister and a bike courier going underneath. In May, he painted a stunning stencilled lighthouse on the port of Marseille. It included the beautiful line, “I want to be what you saw in me,” sealing the deal on his early career work. The last article appears to be a reaction to the recent, sustained pro-Palestine protests. This would be on-brand for Banksy’s history of making politically charged art. Notably, he is known for having previously painted on the apartheid wall built by Israel along the border of the occupied territory of the West Bank.
Witnesses described security guards standing in front of the pieces, trying to block members of the public from photographing paintings on display. Matteo, who passed by the scene at 8:30 AM on Monday, expressed his disapproval of the guards’ actions.
“I think it’s disgusting that they would just cover it up,” – Matteo
Local laborers told The Independent that they saw security staff aggressively patrolling the area. This led to speculation about why anyone would want to cover the artwork. After all, Banksy has created quite an impressive body of work for provoking the powers that be with brilliant political commentary. This event has led to even fiercer disputes over freedom of expression and censorship.
The court complex’s decision to obscure the artwork has drawn criticism from various observers, who argue that it undermines the significance of Banksy’s message. The shocking visual of a judge physically attacking a demonstrator just sounds the alarm. More than that, it ignites substantive discussion about justice and activism in our current society.
The controversy around hiding provocative art continues to play out. In one stark image, Banksy’s poignant critique of public health racism persists. With each creation, the artist continues to challenge perceptions and inspire conversations. His most recent article does nothing but further this incredible trend.