Phallic Addition to Folkestone Banksy Mural

A Banksy mural, which recently appeared in the English coastal town of Folkestone is the latest of the illusive street artist’s works to be vandalized, the Independent reported. An unknown perpetrator painted a crude drawing of a penis to look as if it were sitting atop a previously-empty plinth.

Police opened a criminal investigation shortly after the damaged work was discovered. It has an estimated value of £300,000 ($480,000). A police spokesman told the Folkestone Herald: “Kent Police was called at 8pm on Sunday 12 October to a report of criminal damage in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone. It was reported an artwork on a wall had been painted on. Officers attended the scene and inquiries are ongoing.”

According to Kent Online, the vandalism has already been scraped off by specialists using a chemical removal treatment. The work is currently being protected by security personnel. Fortunately, Shepway District Council had taken the precaution of covering the mural with a transparent sheet plastic perspex, after it was discovered late last month. The method has been used to successfully preserve Banksy murals in other towns and cities.

Banksy confirmed that he had painted the artwork depicting an elderly woman looking at an empty plinth on September 29. The mural has helped to attract thousands of visitors to this year’s Folkestone Triennial. (see “Fresh Banksy Appears in Folkestone, England“)


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.

Share

Article topics
Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.

You are currently logged into this Artnet News Pro account on another device. Please log off from any other devices, and then reload this page continue. To find out if you are eligible for an Artnet News Pro group subscription, please contact [email protected]. Standard subscriptions can be purchased on the subscription page.

Log In