Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work
The statue in Waterloo Place, which appeared early Wednesday, depicts a man proudly hoisting a flag— but the flag is blinding him.
www.kpbs.orgHere’s the latest on Banksy’s statue in London.
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A newly appeared Banksy statue in central London, Waterloo Place, has been confirmed by Banksy as his work. It shows a suited figure walking off a plinth while holding a flag that obscures his vision, a stark commentary on patriotic power. Westminster City Council has indicated they have no plans to remove the piece and are taking steps to protect it while keeping it accessible to the public.[1][3][4][6][7]
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Public reaction has been swift and mixed, with crowds gathering to view the work and observers framing it as a critique of “blind patriotism” and leadership out of touch with reality. Media coverage notes the work’s provocative placement in a historically imperial/military area and the ongoing debate about its permanence in a high-security setting.[4][6][7]
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For context, reports describe that the sculpture was installed overnight in the Waterloo Place area near statues of King Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, and that coverage highlights questions about permission and preservation in a busy part of Westminster.[6][1]
Illustrative note
- If you’re planning a visit, Waterloo Place is in Westminster, near Pall Mall and The Mall, and the statue’s visibility can depend on crowd placement and barriers put up by local authorities.[7][1]
If you’d like, I can pull in more details from specific outlets or summarize ongoing developments as new articles emerge.