On a quiet wall in Marseille, Banksy has once again transformed urban space into a mirror of human emotion. This time, the message hits closer to the heart. On Rue Félix Frégier, a freshly stenciled black lighthouse now rises from a beige wall, accompanied by the words:
“I want to be what you saw in me.”
It’s unclear whether the piece is a universal reflection or a deeply personal statement, but for those of us who’ve followed Banksy’s work for decades, this one carries the unmistakable weight of loss. Word has spread that this piece is linked to the memory of an old friend of the artist, someone who passed away recently. If true, it adds another layer of meaning to an already haunting intervention.
At first glance, the lighthouse stands alone, quiet and symbolic. But step back and the composition reveals its brilliance. It’s a trick of shadow. The bollard in front of the wall casts a real shadow and Banksy has extended it into illusion. The lighthouse is not a structure, but a shadow, rising from something mundane. It’s not there, and yet it is. Just like the memory of someone who once saw the best in you.
This makes the accompanying text all the more poignant.
Not “I am what you saw in me,” but
“I want to be.”
It’s a promise. A regret. A longing.
📍 Why Marseille?
Marseille has always been a city of in-betweens. A place where ships dock, where people arrive and leave. A city steeped in movement and memory. There’s no more fitting location for a tribute like this where a bollard, a wall, and a shadow become a lighthouse not just in form, but in spirit.
✅ Verified Location
The work was revealed Thursday on Banksy’s official Instagram. Though its exact location was initially a mystery, it sits quietly on Rue Félix Frégier in Marseille. No barriers. No plaques. Just raw emotion, open to the street.
As someone who’s seen thousands of interventions on walls around the world, I can say with certainty. This isn’t a mural for attention. It’s a piece of mourning. A whispered tribute. A lighthouse for someone who once saw the light in him and maybe in all of us.
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