On the tenth day, after introducing London to an array of intricate murals featuring mountain goats, elephants, pelicans, a rhinoceros, and a gorilla, among other animals, the elusive street artist Banksy rested.
Banksy’s impromptu animal kingdom, which emerged across various locations in London over nine consecutive days, seemingly reached its conclusion with a final, evocative mural. This last piece astonished London Zoo staff who arrived early Tuesday to care for the animals.
Fans, who usually get wind of Banksy’s latest works through updates on his website or Instagram, found no new postings on Wednesday. Enthusiasts often rush to these newly revealed locations to snap pictures before the art can be removed or vandalized.
The zoo mural, showcasing a gorilla lifting the entrance gate as birds soared, a sea lion waddled away, and three sets of eyes peeked out from the darkness, was the final piece in this captivating series. Multiple attempts by The Associated Press to reach Banksy’s team for comments were unsuccessful.
Followers of the enigmatic artist, whose true identity remains concealed, engaged in fervent online debates about the potential symbolism of the artworks. Some posited that the animals symbolized people and referenced the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Others suggested the murals alluded to recent right-wing-instigated riots in Britain.
Speculations abound that Banksy, renowned for advocating human and animal rights, was commenting on the need to liberate creatures from confinement. Alternatively, some admirers saw a whimsical touch, thinking this final artwork unveiled the origins of the previous animal depictions.
Banksy expert Jasper Tordoff from MyArtBroker noted an evolving theory that the increasing number of animals—one to two to three in the initial pieces—hinted at a Noah’s Ark motif, a familiar theme in Banksy’s religious satire. This theory, however, dissipated when the fourth mural displayed a solitary wolf, seemingly out of context.
Banksy’s oeuvre is often laced with political undertones, and Tordoff observed that these new murals, executed with stencils and spray paint, are designed to be clever but straightforward, aiming to infuse joy during a period overshadowed by grim news.
Nevertheless, Tordoff speculated that Banksy might be commenting on human nature and materialism, as at least one mural has been stolen and others relocated for preservation. “We’re part of this performance,” Tordoff remarked. “Banksy undoubtedly knew these artworks would be documented through photos and CCTV, which might be integral to his narrative, as public reactions are also a form of entertainment.”
Over nine days, the murals mostly appeared as silhouettes:
— Aug. 5: A mountain goat teetered on a narrow building ledge in west London, seemingly dislodging crumbling rocks.
— Aug. 6: Two elephants adorned boarded-up windows in Chelsea, their trunks stretching towards each other. Instagram followers likened them to the proverbial “elephants in the room” that everyone notices but no one discusses.
— Aug. 7: Three monkeys frolicked on a railway bridge in east London, which some fans associated with the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” adage.
— Aug. 8: A lone wolf howled from a satellite dish, breaking the ascending animal sequence. Its tenure was brief as masked men swiftly removed the dish from a rooftop in south London.
— Aug. 9: Two pelicans perched on a northeast London fish and chip shop sign. One pelican caught a fish in its beak, while the other snapped at a fish forming part of the signage. The shop, temporarily closed until September, expressed gratitude on Instagram for Banksy’s artwork, denying any prior arrangement.
— Aug. 10: A big cat sprawled across a dilapidated plywood billboard in north London. Spectators booed when contractors arrived to remove it for safekeeping.
— Aug. 11: The windows of a small police post were transformed into a fish tank, inhabited by a circling school of piranhas. This colorful mural, positioned near the Old Bailey criminal courthouse, was moved for protection but will eventually be displayed publicly.
— Aug. 12: A rhinoceros appeared to be mounting a small Nissan car on a brick wall sidewalk. The rhino was later tagged with graffiti, and the car was removed.
— Aug. 13: The zoo mural surprised Dan Simmonds, the zoo’s animal operations manager, on Tuesday morning. “In my 20 years here, this is the most surprising morning I’ve experienced,” he said. “A massive surprise for all of London, indeed the world.” The mural, now behind barriers, protected by an acrylic shield, and overseen by three security guards, drew cyclists and runners who paused to capture photos and selfies.
