One morning, Sam, a homeowner in Margate, was surprised when her tenant sent a photo of graffiti that looked like a Banksy. It was later confirmed to be a new Banksy artwork, Valentine’s Day Mascara, which appeared on Valentine’s Day 2023. It shows a 1950s housewife with a black eye pushing a man into a real fridge-freezer. The piece comments on domestic violence.
Not knowing what to do, Sam contacted a gallery, and experts came quickly to protect the artwork, as new Banksys are often damaged or removed quickly. Sam's life changed overnight. Media, tourists, and locals all rushed to see the piece. Some people even took parts of it when officials removed the fridge.
At the same time, another couple, Gert and Gary, found a giant Banksy seagull on their rental house in Lowestoft. It appeared overnight, with insulation strips arranged to look like a packet of chips. This piece was part of Banksy’s Great British Staycation series.
Unlike Sam, Gert and Gary had a harder time. Locals thought the artwork belonged to the town, but no one helped them protect it. They had to spend huge amounts of money to preserve it and faced council fees and restrictions.
Both artworks were removed and are being sold. Sam’s piece may sell for over £1 million and help charities. Gert’s piece is still unsold and costs thousands to store. Their stories show that a Banksy on your wall can bring fame – or big problems.
Vocabulary:
• homeowner (noun) : someone who owns a house or flat/apartment.
• domestic violence (noun) : physical or emotional abuse in a home, usually between partners.
• gallery (noun) : a place where art is shown and sometimes sold.
• installation (noun) : an art piece that includes several objects or elements arranged together.
• hired (verb, past) : paid someone to do a job.
• reaction (noun) : how people feel or behave after something happens.
• rental property (noun) : a place someone owns and allows others to live in for money.
• council (noun) : local government group that manages public services.
• storage (noun) : keeping something in a safe place.
• legal issues (noun) : problems related to the law.
Source: BBC