Banksy installs new statue in central London : NPR
NPR • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A new statue by the elusive artist Banksy appeared mysteriously in central London, depicting a suited man carrying a large flag that covers his face while stepping off a plinth with no ground beneath him.
- The statue was installed during King Charles III's state visit to the U.S., and Banksy confirmed the work via a video posted on his Instagram, which featured British composer Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance."
- Positioned in Waterloo Place near statues of King Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, the statue's installation appears unauthorized, but London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed hope it would be preserved for public enjoyment.
- Westminster City Council announced it has no plans to remove the statue, describing it as a striking addition to the city's public art scene and has taken steps to protect it.
- This installation follows a recent incident last September when a Banksy mural at the Royal Courts Service was quickly removed after depicting a judge attacking a protester.
