The initial attempt to scrub away the Banksy left behind a clear outline of the original that still made the original intent perfectly clear
The initial attempt to scrub away the Banksy left behind a clear outline of the original that still made the original intent perfectly clear
He knew it would be removed, and wanted it to be.
That’s why, instead of spraying it on a random wall like usual, where it would’ve likely been left alone, he purposely chose a grade 1 listed building, where it legally must be removed.
Grade 1 listed buildings are very protected, you even have to use period-correct ingredients in the paint when you’re doing maintenance, that’s how serious about preservation the laws are.
It’s a quite dishonest, because the implication from headlines is of course going to be that it’s a government attempt to silence him, but it’s certainly an effective strategy for advertising your work and raising your profile.