Banksy's New Mural Vandalized with White Paint

The mural created by Banksy on March 18th on a building in North London next to a neglected tree has been damaged just two days after its unveiling, as reported by The Guardian. Unknown vandals splashed it with white paint.

The artwork in Finsbury Park features green strokes on the wall near the tree, creating an abstract depiction of leaves, with a stencil nearby depicting a person holding a pressure hose. Banksy confirmed his authorship of this work on Instagram.

However, within two days, photos began circulating online showing the mural covered in white paint.

Representatives from the Islington Council, where the damaged mural is located, stated that upon learning of its existence, they took temporary measures to protect it and manage the crowd.

"It's sad to see the artwork vandalized. When the mural appeared in Islington, we quickly took temporary measures to protect it and manage the crowd, including installing barriers and posting patrols," Islington authorities said.

According to them, Banksy's new piece highlights the crucial role trees play in society and in addressing the extraordinary climate situation.

"We are discussing future decisions with the building owner so that everyone can enjoy the artwork while also protecting it, the tree, and the surrounding area. We also plan to install video surveillance," local officials added.

The local government also mentioned that the cherry tree chosen by Banksy was 40–50 years old and was in a neglected state with decay and fungal infection. Officials decided to prune the tree's top branches to try to save it, expecting it to rejuvenate across the canopy.

Banksy fans who visited the mural expressed their disappointment, with one calling it "senseless vandalism."

Patrick Walker, who flew in from Germany to see the mural, said, "I was late because the mural was ruined last night. It's sad that it happened so quickly, but it's normal because Banksy's works always have a temporary nature."