A protective layer has been installed over part of the Banksy art work in Margate.
Resident Jack Murphy-Delo spotted the covering being put on the stencil work at Park Place last night (February 14).
The art has caused quite a stir since first appearing overnight on February 12/13.
The piece, titled Valentine’s Day Mascara, originally showed a woman with a swollen shut eye and missing tooth with a man’s legs poking out from a chest freezer, alongside an upturned chair and a beer bottle. It is understood to be a comment on domestic violence.
However, the work used a chest freezer with a jammed open lid as a prop and this was removed by Thanet council yesterday to be ‘made safe.’
Jack says he spotted the protective covering being put in place while out on his bike last night.
He said: “I cycled down to the scene where Banksy’s newest art piece was created in Margate to see what was happening.
“A protective layer was being installed over the art pieces and I was able to talk with one of the men doing it. They confirmed that they’re hoping the art piece is going to remain there for a number of weeks.
“They confirmed that they’re hoping to have the freezer back in its original position.”
Meanwhile, someone has decided to replace the freezer with a bin (again) this morning.
The protective covering, which is on the wall of a privately owned property, has not been carried out by the council.
Yesterday a council spokesperson said: ““The fridge freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public. We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district.”
The freezer is currently at a council site and it is understood that it will be returned to the Banksy site today.
Banksy’s stencils feature striking and, often darkly humorous, images occasionally combined with slogans. The message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist or anti-establishment. The arts are worth huge sums of money.
Domestic violence – get help
Find help information from Oasis Domestic Abuse service at http://www.oasisdaservice.org/get-help-now and click the ‘exit now’ button to erase all traces from your Internet history.
Call Kent Domestic Abuse Services Victim Support on 0808 168 9276
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is run by Refuge and offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day to victims and those who are worried about friends and loved ones. Telephone: 0808 2000 247
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them.
Call 0808 801 0327.
