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Banksy’s recent installation at London Zoo has everyone talking, but is it just art or does it carry a deeper meaning?
A striking new Banksy art piece has appeared at London Zoo featuring a gorilla seemingly liberating a group of animals from captivity.
Painted on the zoo’s white shutters, the piece shows the gorilla lifting the shutters to free a seal and several birds, resonating strongly with the theme of freedom.
This piece is the latest in a series of animal-themed works by the elusive artist, marking the end of a nine-day artistic spree across London.
Other artworks by Banksy, all following an animal theme, have appeared each morning since 5th August. A goat, elephants, monkeys, wolves, pelicans, cats, piranhas and rhinoceros have all featured in the pieces.
According to the BBC, Banksy’s team have confirmed this piece is the artist’s final installation in the series.
Banksy art at London Zoo
The public response to the artwork has been mainly positive, though interpretations of the meaning behind the piece have varied, sparking debates over whether zoos really contribute to animal conservation.
Daniel Simmonds, the zoo’s animal operations manager, expressed the staff’s delight at the surprise: “We’re quite honoured he’s chosen to use our front shutters this morning to put one of his incredible artworks.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant,” Simmonds told BBC News. He also mentioned that the staff had no idea the artwork was planned, adding to the excitement of discovering it.
London Zoo shared the artwork on Instagram with the caption “Is the (big) cat out of the bag? Have our animals been helping to make people smile all over London this week?”
However, some animal rights activists interpret the artwork as carrying a strong anti-captivity message.
Viva! Founder Juliet Gellatley voiced her thoughts on the zoo’s Instagram post, stating, “Banksy cares about animals and no one who cares wants to see them in captivity. He is clearly showing the gorilla releasing the prisoners.”
Others criticised the zoo for ‘missing the point’ of the artwork, with one user calling the post “embarrassing”.
Animals in Banksy’s Art
Animals have been a central theme in Banksy’s latest works which have appeared in various locations across London over the past week.
The gorilla artwork at London Zoo is just one of many that have sparked discussions about the messages behind the series.
Earlier pieces include an image of two elephants trying to touch trunks through blocked-out windows near Kew Bridge and piranhas seemingly swimming in a police sentry box on Ludgate Hill.
This isn’t the first time Banksy has used animals to convey a deeper message.
In 2013, the artist made headlines with “Sirens of the Lambs,” a mobile installation that featured a truck filled with stuffed animal toys, driven through the streets of New York City.
The piece was seen as a critique of the meat industry and the treatment of farmed animals.
You don’t need to spend lots of time or money to advocate for animals. Try one of these easy ways to help animals
Featured photo © Banksy/Instagram
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