A new London Banksy mural of a tree was only up three days before it was vandalized with white paint, and plastic sheeting with wooden boards was subsequently erected around it.
Earlier, the local council put up metal fencing, but it was the building’s owner that placed the plastic over the mural, Knewz.com has learned.
The Banksy mural popped up in North London’s Finsbury Park on March 17, with bright green paint on a wall behind a large, barren cherry tree that had been pruned. The paint behind the tree appears as though the tree has come to life and at the bottom of the mural is a figure holding a pressure hose.
However, three days after the mural went up, white paint was splattered over the artwork, and the local Islington council, as well as the building’s owner, Alex Georgiou, stepped in to protect it.
Prior to the owner’s effort, previous temporary measures to protect the mural implemented by Islington council included metal fencing and regular checks by park patrol officers to manage crowds and help protect the artwork.
A council spokesperson told The Guardian, “The Banksy artwork has attracted huge crowds and there is a need to protect the art and local residents from the impact of visitor numbers.”
The spokesperson also said the council would continue to explore “future solutions with the building owner so people can enjoy the artwork,” adding it was in the process of installing a CCTV camera.
On X, one resident, “Auntie Janet” bemoaned the vandalism. She tweeted, “Why are some people so set on destroying art? Are they the same ones who protest about the 'nannie state' stopping the public from interacting?”
Not everyone was thrilled by the extensive measure the council has taken. Güley Polat, who traveled to see the mural from Germany, encountered the plastic covering and the wooden boards when she finally arrived. She told the BBC, “It's very sad. What I see is a disaster. I don't like it. It seems like we are in prison. I think Banksy doesn't want to have his street art in a prison."
Mary Dickenson also told the BBC, “When it first went up it was nice. Someone did try to destroy it, and they've blocked everything off now, so you can't really see anything."
Dave JaVu tweeted, “It’s like the Emperor’s new clothes. It's made the place look even worse, yet everyone is hypnotized by the illusion of fame.”
Other locals took a dimmer view. On X, “Philip” posted, “Absolutely pathetic. The council that is. This bit of graffiti gets fences, CCTV. Meanwhile in another part of London a fish and chip shop owner has been ordered to remove his artwork.”
Another resident, Jane Amelia Parker, tweeted, “Islington council has wasted my council tax on a Banksy and had to install fences and cctv to protect it. Yet they say ‘funds are tight’ and now charge extra for garden waste collection! Paint the wall white or it’ll end up a complete mess like the one in Essex Rd.”
