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Banksy confirms new mural in north London
18/03/2024
A tree mural in north London that appeared on a residential building overnight is the work of Banksy, the anonymous street artist has confirmed.
The artist claimed the mural as his own in an Instagram post on Monday, following a morning of speculation after it appeared on a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park overnight.
Residents told the PA news agency they are “proud and delighted” at the thought of the anonymous artist choosing their street for his latest mural.
Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: “We’re so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.
“The bright green colours represent Islington, which is lovely, and also, of course, St Patrick’s Day, which is nice and festive.
“Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents. We just feel so proud.”
Bright green paint has been sprayed on the building, in front of a cut-back tree, creating the impression of being its foliage.
A stencil of a person holding a pressure hose has also been sketched on to the building.
The vivid paint colour matches that used by Islington Council for street signs in the area.
Neighbours gathered to take photographs and selfies with the mural on Monday morning, and to speculate on its creator.
Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: “The way it’s been done, with the paint spraying down, reminds me of a weeping willow, so there’s perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front.
“It’s just great – when we read about it last night, we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible.
“We feel so proud to think he chose our street.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told PA he is “delighted” to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency.
“Banksy’s come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery. We’re the most densely populated constituency in the country and I’m just delighted,” the MP said.
“It gives the idea that we could do with much more greenery everywhere and I think that’s a really nice message.”
Chris Beskin, another resident of Hornsey Road, told PA he welcomes the mural, saying it is a “great thing to have in our area”.
“I’m absolutely delighted to see this on our street – I think it’s great and sends a strong message, I’d like to see more of it, to be honest, the more the merrier,” he said.
“I think it’s probably one of his biggest pieces in a while – and the fact he’s done it on the wall means it can’t just be stolen or easily removed.”
Mr Beskin went to see the mural with his neighbours on Monday morning.
Fellow resident Carolyn told PA: “It’s just lovely to see how this piece of art has brought everyone together.
“People have come out to chat in the streets and came out early this morning to speculate together. It’s brought the community together, which has been really nice to see.”
Banksy usually confirms his artwork via his Instagram and website.
Before this piece, his last confirmed work was in December, when he painted military drones on to a stop sign in Peckham, south-east London.
That work was removed less than an hour after it was confirmed on the artist’s social media to be genuine, with witnesses reporting it was taken down by a man with bolt cutters.
Two men were later arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.
Alex Georgiou, whose company owns the building with the mural on, said he found out about it late on Sunday night, and came down to see it for the first time on Monday morning.
“It’s quite mad to be honest, to come down here and just to see all the crowds of people looking at the building,” he told PA.
Mr Georgiou said there was not currently anyone living in the building, which was on the lettings market with his estate agents, Alex Marks.
“The question is, what do I do with it now? What am I meant to do with it now? I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyone’s loving it which is great, I just can’t really believe it still to be honest,” he said.
Mr Georgiou joked that he might be able to increase the rent price, now that the elusive street artist had chosen the building for his latest artwork.
Published: by Radio NewsHub