Banksy has been sharing satirical graffiti works with the British public for some 30 years, often receiving praise and special protection.
But scepticism has surrounded the Bristol-based artist’s latest collection of silhouettes in London.
Banksy, identified as Robin Gunningham by the Mail on Sunday in 2008, has claimed credit for a series of stencilled animals painted on walls across the capital this week, including a goat near Kew Bridge, elephants in Chelsea and dancing monkeys near Brick Lane.
But not everyone has been quick to praise the activist for his work.
“They’re nice pieces, but they don’t carry any transcendental message, or if they do, I don’t see it,” said Banksy biographer Will Ellsworth-Jones. The telegraph.
On Monday, the silhouette of a goat appeared in Kew, kicking off the series across London.
Fans have been praising the series across town, but not everyone has been as impressed.
Today, fans of the artist gathered around a new work depicting a cat in Cricklewood.
Elephants appeared in Chelsea, West London, on Tuesday, unveiled by Banksy
Residents may think differently.
Property prices at the plush Chelsea and Richmond addresses where the elephant silhouettes were painted were expected to rise between £500,000 and £800,000, property expert Pete Mugleston told MailOnline.
“If you’re lucky enough to have Banksy paint your property, you can expect to see its value double overnight,” he said.
Critics were quick to point out earlier this week that wealthy west London homeowners were the ones to benefit most from expected rises in property prices, before the artist moved to north, east and south-east London.
But even in West London, not everyone was convinced.
Trisha Abcorn said: “It’s not his best work. It looks a bit rushed and the edges are a bit messy.
“It’s obvious he wanted to do it quickly because he probably didn’t want anyone to see it,” he said.
“We are used to things being done a little better here.”
Frank Cummings, who admitted to being a Banksy fan, continued the thought: ‘There are a lot of rich people around here and I’m sure they won’t be too impressed.
‘This area doesn’t really need the attention of having a Banksy, but I’m glad it’s here.’
Yusuf, who lives opposite the artwork, said: “It’s amazing to live opposite a Banksy, but I’ve seen better things from him.
“He painted it on a main road and if you look closely it looks like it’s smudged. I don’t think he’s very good at using stencils.”
«I’m also a little confused about what the two elephants mean.»
Bristol-based Banksy did not caption his social media posts revealing the artworks, sparking further speculation.
Some suggested the Chelsea piece could be a reference to the “elephants in the room.”
The elephants were the second installation after a silhouette of a goat appeared atop a wall in leafy Kew on Monday, boosting the price of a property by about £100,000.
The artist’s ardent fans praised the work.
Amber Doffman, an art teacher who lives in Acton, said she has been writing to Banksy for years and only sent him an email a few months ago asking him to come to west London.
“He is my idol and the reason I became an art teacher,” she said.
“Banksy inspires me so much. I hope they cover it with acrylic immediately before someone damages it. I’m so scared of it being vandalised.”
Ms Doffman added that she believes the artwork “has to do with the environment and how we have ruined it to the point where animals don’t know where to go anymore”.
“I’m also a little confused about what the two elephants mean,” one resident said.
On Wednesday, the artist shared silhouettes of three monkeys on a bridge in east London.
Once again, speculation arose as to what the monkeys might mean, if they meant anything.
A wolf howling at the moon appeared on a satellite dish in Rye Lane on Thursday
But within hours of being unveiled, the Banksy in Peckham appeared to have been stolen.
Meanwhile, the artist and political activist, whose work has tackled challenging themes such as alienation, consumerism and anti-authoritarianism, presented three monkeys, a lone wolf, two pelicans and a big cat on the other side of the city.
The trio of monkeys, who appeared to be swinging under a bridge on Brick Lane near a vintage clothing store, raised many questions when they appeared on Wednesday.
They have been associated with the Japanese proverb “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” But in Banksy’s work, the monkeys do not cover their eyes, ears or mouth.
His fourth artwork, which appeared in Peckham, south-east London, on Thursday and depicts a lone wolf howling at a satellite dish, appears to have been stolen within minutes.
The striking painting of a wolf howling towards the night sky appeared overnight on top of a former Betfred store in Rye Lane, Peckham.
A video has emerged showing the shocking moment the artwork was dismantled before being moved.
The group of hooded men wearing masks and gloves were seen climbing the building, removing the satellite dish and walking away.
On Friday, the artist claimed responsibility for two pelicans that appeared over a fish bar in Walthamstow.
The large waterfowl appeared to be eating fish above the fried fish market on Northcote Road.
Local Labour MP Stella Creasy praised the project, which is located in her constituency.
She said: ‘Walthamstow. Where even our seafood restaurant is a bit cooler than everyone else’s.
‘Even if it’s not a Banksy, it’s cool and the pieces are magical, although the owner is on holiday at the moment so you’ll have to wait to confirm it yourself.
“So thanks to whoever added this little bit of magic to our street art today.”
The fifth mural appeared on a fish and chip shop in Walthamstow on Friday.
Banksy has left locals stunned, confused and ungrateful with his latest works.
The latest mural seen on a disused billboard on Edgware Road in Cricklewood
Today’s artwork, the cat, was printed on an abandoned billboard in Cricklewood, North London.
Some were initially impressed by the work. Simon Stephenson, who saw it “first”, said he felt like he had won the lottery.
“It’s fantastic to see that it’s his. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found it. I guess I was in the right place at the right time.”
Mixed reception is nothing new for the artist, and provoking stunned, confused and suspicious reactions from the local population is surely better than no reaction at all.
