The recent appearance of two identical murals by the elusive street artist Banksy has captured the attention of Londoners. The first mural was identified on Queen’s Mews in Bayswater on Monday.
In this striking piece, two children are depicted reclining on the ground, outfitted in winter attire, complete with wellington boots and bobble hats. One of the children is seen pointing upward toward the sky.
While Banksy’s representatives have confirmed the Bayswater mural, reports indicate that he is also the artist behind a similar mural that surfaced outside the Centre Point tower in central London on Friday. This confirmation, however, is yet to be officially announced.
Artist’s Message on Child Homelessness
Banksy revealed the new artwork through a post on his Instagram account on Monday afternoon. Artist Daniel Lloyd-Morgan commented on the Centre Point mural, suggesting that its location serves as a poignant commentary on child homelessness.
„Everyone is enjoying themselves, yet many children are facing hardships during the Christmas season,“ he stated.
Lloyd-Morgan observed that passersby often ignore the artwork, saying, „It’s a busy area. It’s quite poignant that people aren’t stopping. They walk past homeless individuals without acknowledging them. It’s almost as if they’re stargazing.“ He noted that the positioning of the children pointing skyward aligns with this sentiment.
Historical Context of Centre Point
The second mural outside the Centre Point tower, located at 101-103 New Oxford Street, mirrors the artwork in Bayswater. This tower has long been a site of housing protests since its inception as an office structure in 1963 and remained unoccupied for over a decade, drawing the ire of social justice advocates.
The homelessness charity Centrepoint was founded in response to the tower’s existence, with its founder, Rev Ken Leech, describing the building as „an affront to the homeless.“ The structure has since been converted into luxury apartments.
While Banksy has not publicly commented on the significance of the mural locations, Banksy enthusiast Jason Tomkins expressed that the work serves as a clear statement on homelessness.
Continuity in Banksy’s Work
Tomkins also noted that the artwork appears to feature a character from one of Banksy’s earlier pieces, pointing out that the figure resembles a child from a 2018 mural in Port Talbot. He remarked, „It’s quite unusual for him to use the same character again, as he typically doesn’t repeat characters in his work.“
This recent piece follows another of Banksy’s murals that appeared in London in September, which depicted a protester holding a blood-spattered sign.
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