Take a look at this new statue by artist Banksy

The new statue has been placed in Waterloo Place in St James’s, an area that celebrates British imperialism and military dominance in the 1800s.

Imperialism is when a country or nation claims another as it’s own, often using military, political or economic power to gain control.

Some people think the meaning behind the new statue could be a commentary on “blind patriotism”.

Patriotism means to have a strong feeling of pride or love for a country and it’s culture.

“Blind patriotism” could be considered to be when a person’s love or pride for a country, means they don’t always see the full picture – for example if that country has done bad things in the past, they only see the good things.

James Peak, creator of a BBC podcast about Banksy, said the figure in the statue was a “man in power” with “his chest puffed out” and “the flag completely obscuring his vision, which is why he is about to fall off the plinth”.

On Banksy’s Instagram post, someone noted: “The idea is brutally simple: a suited figure blinded by its own flag. Classic Banksy. Quiet at first, then impossible to unsee.”