Is Banksy creating a street art zoo in London? On Monday, a single stenciled goat appeared on a wall in Richmond. On Tuesday, a pair of similarly stylized elephants were spotted peering out from windows in Chelsea. Today, the street artist claimed credit for three monkeys swinging on the bridge of a Tube station on Brick Lane. Speculation as to the animals’ intended meaning is abounding—as are guesses for what’s next in what seems to be a new Banksy series.
Banksy Unveils Three Animals in Three Days
Banksy, the anonymous Bristol-based street artist, claimed credit for three stenciled animal murals in as many days: three monkeys, two elephants, and one goat. All the animals are spray-painted black in the artist’s iconic silhouetted style. On the side of an Edith Terrace house in Chelsea, two elephants, one with tusks and one without, look out from adjacent shuttered windows. The animals reach their trunks towards each other.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of a Tube station over Brick Lane in Shoreditch, three monkeys appear to swing above the street below. Richmond’s mysterious mountain goat mural was the first to appear in what seems to be a new street art series. Banksy confirmed each of the murals was his doing in three consecutive Instagram posts.
Speculation Abounds on Instagram
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Sign up to our Free Weekly NewsletterThe internet is ablaze with myriad interpretations of Banksy’s London animals. However, none of the artist’s three Instagram posts included any commentary about the street art, further fuelling speculation. As with the goat mural, many commenters on Instagram wondered whether the monkeys and elephants have an ecological message. Common phrases like “the elephant in the room” and “scapegoat” have also come up. So has the association of three monkeys with the Japanese proverb “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Because Banksy is well-known for making political statements, many commenters believe Banksy is making a shrouded statement about growing tensions in the United Kingdom regarding migration or protesting the ongoing war in Gaza. On Monday, one commenter wrote that “it could be as simple as Banksy thought a goat would look cool up there.” The artist has not confirmed any particular meaning behind the animals.
What’s Next For Banksy?
Banksy fans are naturally anticipating that more animal silhouettes are yet to appear around the British capital. A top commenter on Banksy’s latest post wrote, “We should prepare ourselves for something massive.” The comment received thousands of likes within the hour. In the meantime, spectators are flocking to see the cryptic concrete jungle for themselves.
Since the 1990s, Banksy’s satirical street art has appeared worldwide. The streets of London are a favorite canvas for the British artist. Much of his work has been lost over the years, as street art tends to be temporary. Now, thanks to Banksy’s international fame and market value, some of his public works have been removed from the walls on which they were painted and resold.
