A popular Brexit mural, in the English port of Dover by the elusive Street Artist Banksy has been covered over by scaffolding and netting with white paint blocking out the artwork.
The mural depicts a star being chiselled from the EU flag. It appeared near the Dover ferry terminal in May 2017 at the height of the Brexit debates.
The building, owned by the Godden family was due to be demolished. A spokesperson for the owners initially said they were “exploring options for the retention, removal or sale” of the artwork.
Erecting the scaffolding was “cultural vandalism of the highest order
It’s not known whether the artwork has been painted over or removed for sale. The value of the artwork at auction is in the region of £600,000, so it is expected that the piece will appear in a Street Art sale…watch this space!.
The family/owners of the premises previously lost a High Court battle after trying to sell another Banksy mural.
Deal Scaffolding said it was asked to supply scaffolding for general building work to be conducted on the building but was “unaware of any specific purpose”.
According to the BBC, Local residents have been speculating about the latest Banksy mystery, with some saying erecting the scaffolding was “cultural vandalism of the highest order”.
Banksy created the work in Dover inspired by Brexit. The political work shows a workman up a ladder chipping away at a European Union flag, his hand holding a chisel as he knocks off one of the stars.
The Brexit Mural appeared on the side of a house in Dover, in one of the largest ports connecting France to the United Kingdom separated by the English Channel.
In June 2016 Britain held a referendum allowing voters to choose whether to stay or leave the European Union. The leave vote won by a slim majority. The campaign resulted in the resignation of David Cameron the Prime Minister the appointment of Teresa May as leader of the Conservative party and then her sacking by her own party. Boris Johnson succeeded her this Summer.
The UK is now scheduled to leave the EU on October 31, 2019. Article 50, the act which signals the process to leave the Union could still be revoked. However, it is expected that Britain will exit the Union without a deal. Negotiations with Brussels has been ongoing.
Keeping his identity a closely guarded secret, the Bristol street artist Banksy has long been famous for provocative images stencilled around the streets of the UK, and in some of the most politically charged areas of the globe, managing to create anarchic and poignant works while remaining under the radar. With the artist’s latest creation, Dismaland, a group show as a biting satire of Disneyland, Artlyst brings you our top ten Banksy’s of all time.
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