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submitted 11 months ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to c/europe@lemmy.dbzer0.com

A painting by Banksy of a judge using a gavel to beat a helpless protester appeared on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice before quickly being covered up by guards.

Banksy confirmed the artwork was his by posting a picture of it on Instagram on Monday morning. Local workers said security guards were in position in front of the artwork, which is thought to be a reference to pro-Palestine protests.

One, Matteo, said he passed by at 8.30am on Monday when the guards were trying to stop people from taking pictures. More staff then arrived with supplies to cover it up.

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[-] manualoverride@lemmy.world 84 points 11 months ago

This is my favourite Banksy so far. The conundrum going on right now about potentially:

  • washing off artwork worth tens of millions
  • removing a section of the 140 year old building
  • covering the artwork
  • protecting it behind plexiglass

There are a team of people going through a lot of stress right now, and pretty much everyone not rooting for the plexiglass is letting everyone else know what an arsehole they are.

[-] kautau@lemmy.world 24 points 11 months ago

Agreed. Went to a banksy display in the Philippines early this year and having not engaged too much with the art, it became obvious that any of his pieces are now so meta that the scenarios you describe are basically how anyone addresses anything he does. And the vast majority of those involved didn’t even think of the original meaning of the piece, which I guess is part of the point as well.

[-] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 28 points 11 months ago

I know the US is arguably most famous for fascism right now, but wtf is going on over there in the UK?

I can protest here in the US all I want still, despite Mango Moussolini.

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 11 months ago

I know the US is arguably most famous for fascism right now, but wtf is going on over there in the UK?

Fascism

I can protest here in the US all I want still, despite Mango Moussolini

Guess you're not in Florida, or Texas, or Atlanta, or LA, or at a college, or at any of the many other places in the US where they've effectively criminalized free speech that the powerful don't like..

[-] ThrowawayInTheYear23@lemmy.world 22 points 11 months ago

Covering it up? This calls for another painting.

[-] Nougat@fedia.io 16 points 11 months ago

Not covering it up? Believe it or not, another painting.

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 11 months ago

Being inspired by it and changing your ways? Another painting, but by Banksy's less edgy cousin Cred Onion

[-] taiyang@lemmy.world 20 points 11 months ago

That's such a brutal image, I love it.

this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
259 points (99.6% liked)

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