A new statue in central London has sparked a debate over whether it could be the capital’s latest Banksy.
The mystery figure sprang up in Waterloo Place in central London in the early hours on Wednesday, apparently with the legendary artist’s signature, ‘Banksy’, at the bottom – although the artist has not yet confirmed whether it is his.
It depicts a man marching off the end of a plinth while holding a flag entirely covering his face and is located along Pall Mall, near to the Athenaeum Club and the Crimean War Memorial.
The 25-foot work is also positioned directly in front of a golden Athena statue.
The structure appears to have been assembled overnight using prefabricated sections.
Commuters on Wednesday morning stopped by to take photographs, as the word spread that the famous insignia at the bottom of the figure could be Banksy’s.
Indeed, the seemingly political message behind it – depicting a politician or other official blinded by patriotism and walking directly into danger – aligns with Banksy’s usual messages which often have a political or justice-based metaphor.
But the urban artist has not yet claimed it as his. He traditionally does so through his Instagram channel.
A new statue in central London has sparked speculation over whether legendary artist Banksy is behind it
The statue was also positioned directly in front of a golden Athena statue along the Pall Mall
Commuters and passersby stopped to admire the statue, which appeared in the early hours of Wednesday morning
Banksy’s famous signature was inscribed at the bottom of the sculpture – but the artist has not yet confirmed whether he is behind this latest piece of political art
None of Banksy’s murals from recent years, however, have been signed.
His last artwork, a mural on the side of a skyscraper also in central London, depicting a child lying next to another person who is pointing up to the building and sky above, was not signed.
The statue appeared on December 22 last year beneath the Centre Point building near Tottenham Court Road, and showed the child in a beanie hat and Wellingtons lying on the floor next to another person in a bobble hat.
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The same artwork also appeared on the side of a building a few miles away in Queen’s Mews in Bayswater.
In September, a Banksy mural showing a protester on the floor holding a blood-spattered placard while a judge hit him with a gavel appeared on the front of the Royal Courts of Justice building.
It was swiftly covered up by officials, with security guards seen patrolling in front of a screen concealing the artwork.
The artwork followed almost 900 people being arrested in central London at a demonstration supporting banned group Palestine Action, in what was thought to be Britain’s biggest ever mass arrest.
One of Banksy’s most striking moments was in 2003 when he disguised himself as a pensioner and installed a piece in a vacant spot in the Tate Britain in London.
His artwork Girl With Balloon self-destructed in a Sotheby’s London saleroom when descending into a shredder in 2018.
Banksy, who began his iconic street art more than 25 years ago, has sold his works for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
His identity has been shrouded in secrecy until The Mail on Sunday launched an investigation in 2008, naming Robin Gunningham as the Bristol artist. His identity nevertheless remains unconfirmed.
The Daily Mail has contacted Banksy’s team.
