Banksy’s back at it.
The enigmatic British street artist has turned a beige wall on a quiet street in Marseille, France, into a must-see tourist stop for European art fans.
Banksy took to Instagram Friday to claim responsibility for his latest work, which features a simple painting of an illuminated lighthouse along with the words, “I want to be what you saw in me.”
The artist even included GPS coordinates leading fans to 1 Rue Félix Frégier in the city’s 7th arrondissement, not far from the sea.
Tourists have been flocking to the site to see the new Banksy — a shadow caused by a street post in front of the wall perfectly aligns with the lighthouse, creating something of an optical illusion.
Although he has yet to explain the meaning behind the mural’s phrase, fans are speculating it could be a line borrowed from “Softy,” a 2001 ballad by American country act Lonestar.
It is not, however, believed to be a political statement.
By midday Friday, the hashtag #BanksyMarseille was trending across France and elsewhere.
The piece’s official title remains a mystery — just like the artist himself.
Banksy has never revealed his true identity, and has become a household name since 1999, when he first broke onto the scene.
Collectors have paid millions at auction for his work.
Other public works by the artist have been stolen or removed by the different buildings’ owners whose properties he has turned into canvasses.
The new mural precedes a major Banksy retrospective opening June 14 at the Museum of Art in Toulon, where 80 of his works will be on display.
In Montpellier, a Banksy exhibition opened to the public on Saturday.
With Post wires.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
