Last month, Banksy created a new piece in Kent during the Folkestone Triennial of an older woman looking at a plinth holding buffed art. The piece was covered with plexiglass to protect it from vandals, but someone painted a penis next to it anyway. According to ANIMAL, the owner of the wall "has grown tired of protecting it" and began the removal process over the weekend so that the piece could be taken to a London gallery.
A worker originally told Kent Online that the section of wall would be turned so that the mural faced the inside of the building, but that is not the case. Someone in the area captured this video of what sounds like a jackhammer (or some similar construction equipment) hitting the wall from the inside.
Others protested at the scene, attempted to pull down the scaffolding, and many shared photos and messages of rage on Twitter toward those responsible for taking the popular artwork away from the people.
2.
The Folkestone Banksy has now gone! :( #folkestone #banksy pic.twitter.com/dm0TZGpGHi
— Kay McLoughlin (@KayMcLoughlin) November 1, 2014
Really *very* unhappy that #Folkestone #Banksy is sold/gone. They were so proud of that. Money speaks louder than community :(
— David Pearson (@davidthep) November 1, 2014ANIMAL also reports that the piece will be sold by Robin Barton of Bankrobber Gallery in London and that it has an estimated worth of £300,000. Dealers have had bad luck with Banksy pieces that were removed from the streets of New York during his "Better Out Than In" residency lately, but we'll see if Art Buff moves.
[via ANIMAL]
