Believed to be a Banksy piece: A 'Heart-Drawing Policeman' Appears on Hove Beach in Britain...
A police-themed mural that appeared on Hove beach near Brighton, initially thought to be by Banksy, has been declared not to be by the mysterious artist. Banksy's representatives confirmed that the heart-drawing policeman figure is not his latest work.
The mural, which appeared on Hove beach in Britain, sparked curiosity in the city due to the possibility of it being a Banksy piece. Depicting a kneeling policeman drawing a heart with spray paint, the work was quickly compared to Banksy's works, both because of its style and because of Banksy's past presence in Brighton.
According to the BBC, the mural, seen near Palmeira Square, is thought to have been first noticed on Monday, June 29th. The stencil technique, the ironic portrayal of the policeman, and the artist's frequent satirical use of authority figures in his work contributed to the comparison to Banksy.
Residents Discuss Banksy Possibility
Following the discovery of the artwork, some residents in the area speculated that it might be by Banksy. Nick Davenport, a resident of Hove, said he saw the painting while driving along the coastal road, adding, "I'm not sure if it's real. But if it is, people will flock here."
Jack Giles, another resident, said they didn't know if it was Banksy but that it resembled the artist's style. Kristina Miklos, another resident, said she liked the work but didn't think it was a real Banksy.
Representatives Confirm: Not Banksy
The mural quickly sparked curiosity in the city due to its resemblance to Banksy's style. However, the artist's representatives confirmed to the BBC that the artwork was not by Banksy.
Why was it thought to be Banksy?
Both the stencil technique used and the ironic portrayal of the police figure contributed to the resemblance to Banksy. Banksy's frequent use of satirical language in his work, particularly of authority figures like the police, led to the heart-shaped police drawing quickly becoming associated with the artist's style. The fact that Banksy's "Kissing Policemen" artwork had previously been in Brighton further strengthened this possibility.
James Peak, who hosts The Banksy Story on BBC Radio 4, stated that the only way to verify whether an artwork is by Banksy is to see it shared on the artist's website or social media accounts. Banksy usually confirms his new works by announcing them via his Instagram account or website.
The previous "Kissing Policemen" artwork in Brighton
One of the reasons the new mural was associated with Banksy was the artist's history in the city. Banksy's "Kissing Policemen," created in 2004 on the wall of the Prince Albert pub near Brighton train station, is one of the city's best-known street art pieces. The artwork was removed from its original location in 2011 and sold at auction in 2014 for £345,000. Today, a replica of the artwork, protected by plastic, hangs on the wall of the Prince Albert Pub.
Source: https://gazeteoksijen.com/sanat/banksynin-eseri-sanildi-britanyanin-hove-sahilinde-kalp-cizen-polis-belirdi-280985