Owners of a London chip shop where a Banksy mural showing two pelicans appeared plan to stay shut for the summer despite an ‘overwhelming’ response – while the latest of his animal-themed artworks, featuring a rhino, has been defaced.
The pelicans mural was unveiled above Bonners Fish Bar in Walthamstow, north-east London, last Friday – the fifth in what has been a new daily series of contributions across the capital by the graffiti artist.
That one depicts one bird stooping down to scoop up a fish on the takeaway outlet’s sign, while another is seen tossing one in the air.
Fans have been congregating outside the fish bar – as they have been at other sites across the capital where new Banksy creations have been revealed – but there has also been a backlash, including a graffiti ‘tag’ now spraypainted over the rhino mural revealed yesterday in Charlton, south-east London.
Bonners Fish Bar had previously announced in July from August 1 until September 5, a period of closure which owners have now confirmed in an Instagram post – which did also welcome the ‘kind words’ of admirers during the ‘whirlwind’ last few days.
The outlet’s social media post said: ‘The last few days have been a whirlwind, thank you to all who have sent such kind words, comments and messages.
‘We’re so sorry if we haven’t replied, as you can imagine it’s been extremely overwhelming!
‘We’re over the moon that Banksy decided to choose our little fish and chip shop in wonderful Walthamstow and love the design.
‘Contrary to some beliefs, we didn’t ask him to do this, but are very grateful he did!’
The takeaway owners also thanked Walthamstow’s Labour MP Stella Creasy, Waltham Forest council and local street artist Mark McClure from Wood Street Walls for helping to keep the artwork protected.
‘Thank you to the security team who have been keeping watch, we hear you’ve been doing an amazing job,’ the Instagram update added.
‘Fish and chips will be waiting for you when we reopen.
‘We’re loving seeing all your photos and videos with the shop and the Banksy art, and once again are immensely grateful for all your love and support.
‘Looking forward even more to serving you all after our break from the 5th of September.’
Banksy’s latest artwork sees a rhino mounting a silver Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on its bonnet, on Westmoor Street in Charlton.
Yet this was vandalised with a ‘tag’ spraypainted on by a man wearing a black balaclava at about 7.45pm yesterday, it has been revealed.
Stephanie Lester told BBC News the man then ‘walked away from a jeering crowd’, while another witness Devan Vadukul described how a ‘random youth’ wearing a balaclava ‘brazenly walked up and defaced the installation with a graffiti tag’.
He added: ‘The whole incident took place within less than 30 seconds before he disappeared with another male accomplice further down the road.’
Banksy, identified as Robin Gunningham by the Mail on Sunday, began his animal-themed artwork spree across London last Monday.
Sunday’s rhino came a day after his depiction of e giant fish tank on a police sentry box in London – and following dark silhouette images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans and a cat.
The first piece of graffiti in the series, last Monday, is near Kew Bridge in south-west London and shows a goat with rocks falling down below it – just above where a CCTV camera is pointed.
On Tuesday, the artist added silhouettes of two elephants with their trunks stretched towards each other on the side of a building in the Chelsea area of west London.
The following day three monkeys looking as though they were swinging underneath a bridge over Brick Lane in east London appeared.
The fourth artwork appeared on a rooftop in Peckham on Thursday and showed the silhouette of a lone wolf howling into the night sky against the backdrop of a satellite dish – which seemed to represent a moon.
It was removed by a group of masked men within minutes of being unveiled – Banksy has denied any involvement in the theft after fans speculated that it could have been another one of his controversial stunts.
The famed guerilla artist confirmed on Friday that he was neither connected to nor endorsed the theft, adding that he has ‘no knowledge as to the dish’s current whereabouts’.
The fifth design, of the pelicans pinching fish, was revealed on Friday.
Local Labour MP Stella Creasy praised the work, saying: ‘Walthamstow. Where even our chippy is just a bit cooler than everyone else’s.
‘Even if this isn’t a Banksy it’s brill and the chips there are magic, though the owner’s on holiday at moment so you will have to wait to confirm that yourself. So thank you whoever added this bit of magic to our street art today.’
Next came a large cat silhouette on Saturday which was sprayed onto an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood, appearing to show the animal stretching and scratching at a broken part of the wood.
The broken fence, along with the Banksy artwork, was taken down the same day.
Sunday’s artwork of piranhas swimming on a police sentry box has now been taken away by council officials from the City of London to a safe location, amid fears that it could be otherwise stolen.
The City of London Corporation confirmed on Monday that the artwork – one of eight pieces that have been unveiled in recent days by the famed street artist – had been taken away so that it is ‘properly protected’.
A spokesperson said on Monday of the artwork, which was close to London’s Old Bailey court: ‘We have moved the artwork to Guildhall Yard to ensure it is properly protected and open for the public to view safely.’
A permanent home for the piece will be decided in due course.’
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