Banksy Unveiled V-Day Mural; Not Everyone Liked It

Homeowners cover up mural after it's defaced in a very British manner
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 16, 2020 8:15 AM CST
Someone Defaced Bansky's Valentine's Day Mural
A woman walks past a new artwork on the side of a house in Bristol, England, Thursday Feb. 13, 2020, which has been confirmed as the work of street artist Banksy.   (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

The family who owns a house in southwest England where an artwork from Banksy appeared in time for Valentine's Day has covered the mural after it was defaced. Temporary fencing was also added Saturday to the home in Bristol and closed-circuit television has been installed to protect the artwork, which shows a young girl firing red flowers from a catapult. The elusive artist confirmed the mural as his creation on his official Instagram account on Feb. 14, reports the AP. It was later defaced by someone who wrote "BCC wankers," notes the Guardian, which has an image of the damage. Says a local, "It’s a real shame, but it was always going to happen, unfortunately."

Kelly Woodruff, the daughter of Edwin Simons, who owns the rented home on which the artwork appeared, said the family felt a “strong responsibility” to ensure that the artwork could be enjoyed by the general public. “Due to the mindless vandalism to the artwork, the family have taken the very difficult decision to cover the artwork to try to protect it,” she said. “All measures are temporary and we ask that the public are patient while we work out the best way to clean the damage, restore and protect it for the future, so everyone can enjoy Banksy's work.”

(More Banksy stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X