Banksy London Zoo mural offers an explanation for the reason why wild animals have been everywhere in the city
People who visited the London Zoo early Tuesday were amazed to see an exhibit suggesting that the animals were released.
By
Aug 14, 2024 04:15 AM
London AP —
The workers who arrived at the London Zoo early Tuesday were amazed to see an exhibit suggesting that the animals were set free.
The mural of the elusive street artist Banksy depicted a chimp holding the entrance gate while birds flew as a sea lion swam away. Three eyes squinted into the dark.
The painting could explain why Bansky-created characters including an elk perched on the buttress of a building to piranhas in the police post or an rhinoceros riding a car — have been popping up in the most bizarre locations around London for nine consecutive days.
Every single work uploaded to Banksy’s Instagram page include the London Zoo hashtag, said Dan Simmonds, animal operations manager at the Zoo. He didn’t think Banksy would be able to decorate the entrance to the zoo’s main entrance.
“Part of the enigma of Banksy is obviously that everything is a surprise,” Simmonds explained. “We certainly didn’t anticipate that it to happen right here at one of our massive admission shutters. However, upon entering to see it happen, we kind of realized, yeah we’re lucky.”
Simmonds told the Observer that he saw the mural about the time of 6:30 a.m. when he was preparing to feed the animals that were hungry. The cyclists who circle Regent’s Park, where the Zoo is located, each morning were already taking selfies.
The shutter that rolls down was shut throughout the day to showcase the work. It’s a busy time for the zoo. However, the famous street artist swiftly attracted his own followers as crowds of people show up to admire the artwork and take pictures.
Banksy began his career by spray painting structures in Bristol, England, and has since become one of world’s most famous artists.
His works and paintings sell for millions at auctions and have attracted the attention of thieves or vandals. The latest collection of artworks is not an exception, and the Zookeepers have defended the entire area later in the day by putting up a transparent the plastic covers.
The rhino that was seen on Monday was identified with graffiti. A wolf silhouette was painted on an antenna on the roof -that appears to howl at the moon was taken away hours after the word spread about the painting the previous week.
A huge cat, sprawling out over the back of an old billboard, was snatched away within a matter of hours from three people who claimed they were contracted to take it down for security reasons.
A police-issued sentrybox, which was shaped like fish tank was removed from close to the Old Bailey courthouse to the City of London corporate offices to secure it, a spokesperson told. The box will be eventually placed in a place where it can be seen by the general public.
It was unclear whether the mural at the zoo would be the last in the series.
Simmonds said that the Zoo was pleased Banksy selected it as one of his canvasses. He was especially thrilled to meet the giant ape since he was the gorilla’s caretaker.
He suggested that the primate depicted in the painting is a threatened western lowland gorilla. This is the subspecies that they have at the Zoo. Simmonds recognized one of the birds as a possible macaw, and another that he identified as bats.
“As for the eyes, who knows, maybe some cats peering out,” the man said. “That’s the appeal of it. It’s the only thing Banksy will be able to tell.
