Banksy Claims New London Statue of Flag-Blinded Man as His Work

Key facts

• Banksy confirmed via Instagram on Thursday that the statue is his work.
• The sculpture appeared on a plinth in Waterloo Place early Wednesday morning.
• It depicts a suited man striding forward with a billowing flag covering his face.
• The statue stands near statues of King Edward VII, Florence Nightingale, and the Crimean War Memorial.
• Westminster City Council erected barriers around the statue but said it will remain accessible to the public.
• Reuters recently claimed Banksy's identity is Robin Gunningham, a claim the artist has not confirmed.
• Banksy's lawyer said the artist has faced 'fixated, threatening and extremist behaviour'.

A Midnight Installation in Central London

A new sculpture in central London of a man striding off a plinth, his face blinded by a billowing flag, was claimed Thursday by the elusive street artist Banksy, more than a day after it mysteriously appeared. In a humorous video posted on his Instagram account, Banksy showed snippets of how the sculpture was put up in the dead of night. The sculpture appeared to have been erected in the early hours of Wednesday on a plinth on a traffic island in Waterloo Place, near Buckingham Palace. Before the artist’s post, locals and tourists gathered to inspect the statue on the assumption it was Banksy’s work because his signature was scrawled at the base of the plinth. The statue is situated close to those of King Edward VII, who reigned between 1901 and 1910, and legendary nurse Florence Nightingale, as well as the Crimean War Memorial.

A Satirical Statement on Blind Patriotism

The seemingly satirical monument, which bears Banksy’s signature on its plinth, has been drawing crowds to London’s Waterloo Place since it popped up in the early hours of Wednesday morning. An apparent commentary on the idea of blind patriotism, it stands among statues of important British historical figures including King Edward VII and Captain Scott. The video posted to Banksy’s Instagram Thursday shows an older gentleman walking up to the sculpture saying, “I don’t like it.” But many commentors on social media reacted positively to the new work. “A compelling statement on collective blindness – forward motion without vision, without preparation,” said one Instagram user. “Really powerful,” the user added. “The flag carries no identity – no country, no allegiance – just a form, making the figure universal… and somehow still unmistakably directed.”

Council Response and Public Access

By Thursday afternoon, London authorities had erected barriers around the statue. Westminster City Council, which oversees the area, told the BBC: “We’re excited to see Banksy’s latest sculpture in Westminster, making a striking addition to the city’s vibrant public art scene. While we have taken initial steps to protect the statue, at this time it will remain accessible for the public to view and enjoy.” The stunt comes less than two months after the Reuters news agency claimed that it had revealed Banksy’s identity in a sprawling investigation. Banksy, is a bespectacled middle-aged man from Bristol named Robin Gunningham, though the artist did not confirm or deny his identity.

The Unmasking Controversy and Anonymity

The apparent unmasking of Banksy, who has gone to great lengths to preserve his anonymity since his work began appearing around the UK in the 1990s, sparked controversy, with fans and collectors questioning how the revelation might affect the value and resonance of his work. “I wanted the memory of the anonymous artist – and the mystery behind that – to live on,” Nico Epstein, a Lisbon-based art consultant, told CNN in March. “Banksy is a superhero for many, many people. People want to believe that fairy tale and now it’s come to a close.” Banksy’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, told Reuters that the artist “does not accept that many of the details contained within your inquiry are correct” and said Banksy’s anonymity was critical as he had been “subjected to fixated, threatening and extremist behaviour.”

Banksy's Sculptural Works and London Legacy

Statues are not what Banksy is primarily known for. He is far more famous for his spray-painting on buildings, with his first creations appearing in the early 1990s in his hometown of Bristol in southwest England. He has since gone global and his paintings and installations have sold for millions of dollars at auction. His street art is often targeted by thieves and vandals. Banksy is best known for using stencils and spray paint to depict his political, satirical and often subversive messages, though he has produced several statues and sculptures in his three-decade career. In 2004, he took credit for a sculpture depicting a pensive nude bronze figure wearing a traffic cone as a hat called “The Drinker” – a play on Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker” – that appeared in London’s West End. Although Banksy emerged from the Bristol graffiti scene, many of his most famous works have appeared in London, including the “Girl with Balloon” murals, which began popping up in the city in 2002.

Recent Works and Political Commentary

Banksy’s most recent confirmed work in London came in December when he said he was behind a mural that showed two children lying down and looking at the sky. It appeared to be a statement on homelessness as the children seemed to be pointing at the Centre Point Tower, which has long been a symbol of the homelessness crisis. In September outside the Royal Courts of Justice he created a mural of a judge using a gavel to beat a helpless protester. This was during a period where many people were being arrested for holding signs related to the proscribed group Palestine Action. The artwork has since been removed and the court service said it was legally obliged to maintain the character of the building because of its listed status. The news organisation Reuters recently claimed to have unmasked the artist as Bristol-based Robin Gunningham, apparently confirming the findings of a similar investigation conducted by the Mail on Sunday in 2008. Gunningham has denied this.

The bottom line

• Banksy confirmed a new statue in central London depicting a man blinded by a flag, widely interpreted as a critique of blind patriotism.
• The statue was installed overnight on a plinth in Waterloo Place, near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale, and the Crimean War Memorial.
• Westminster City Council has protected the statue with barriers but allowed public access.
• The artwork appears less than two months after Reuters claimed to have identified Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a claim the artist has not confirmed.
• Banksy's lawyer cited threats and extremist behaviour as reasons for maintaining anonymity.
• The statue is Banksy's first confirmed work in London since a December mural on homelessness and a September mural on judicial repression.