When mystery Bristol street artist Banksy rocked up in the bombed out towns of Ukraine last year, he left artwork on the ruined buildings that lifted the nation.
And now, it seems, the Ukrainian authorities are so enamoured with the works Banksy left behind, that they are going to extraordinary and high-tech lengths to protect them.
The police and military personnel obviously have better things to do than guard some street art, so the authorities in the Kyiv region have installed some of the latest technology to protect the works of art from the threat of being stolen by art thieves or vandalised.
In pictures: Sad state of Banksy's Bristol 'Valentine' mural pictured three years on
The Kyiv Regional Military Administration has installed high-tech screens over four of the works that include motion cameras, motion detectors and opening detectors, to make sure that they are still there and in one piece when the war is over, the buildings they are painted on are demolished and rebuilt, and the works themselves are carefully taken away and put into a museum.
Given there’s no sign of an end to the conflict a year on from the failed Russian invasion of Ukraine, that could take a while, so the Kyiv authorities enlisted Ajax Systems and the Sheriff security company to keep up a high-tech virtual watch over the works of art in Borodyanka, Irpin and Horenka.
The works are now protected from the weather, vandalism and any attempts to steal them - a different Banksy work was stolen within a day of being unveiled back in the autumn, although police did capture the thieves and retrieve the work quickly.
“Banksy’s works have cultural and historical value for the country as a reminder that light will win over darkness,” said Oleh Torkunov, the deputy head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration.
“It is important to resist possible vandalism attempts that have already happened. We are grateful to our partners and security engineers. They have found and delivered a successful solution in a challenging environment.
“The security system includes 20 detectors and four control hubs,” a spokesperson for Ajax proudly stated. “The detectors do not depend on a constant power supply, and the control panels are located in a remote room. The hub maintains communication with the devices at a distance of up to 1,700 metres and transfers alarms in less than 0.15 seconds.
“The rapid security team will instantly respond to stealing or damaging attempts. The paintings will be protected until delivered to the museum.
“The MotionCam Outdoor PhOD motion detectors and DoorProtect Plus opening detectors protect the objects against attempts to damage or approach the artwork,” she added.
“The built-in sensors react to shocks and vibrations. In case of an alarm, the StreetSiren siren activates, and the rapid response team arrives. The transparent polycarbonate walls protect the artworks from the external environment. The picture of a judoka in Borodyanka also has a temporary protective structure with the LifeQuality smart air quality monitor inside. LifeQuality monitors the CO2, temperature, and humidity levels. The WallSwitch relay helps maintain the microclimate conditions to keep the painting safe,” she said.
Heorhii Yerko, the acting head of the village council in Borodyanka, where the famous image of a young girl throwing judo black belt Vladimir Putin was the first to attract attention that Banksy was in Ukraine last October, said they wanted to preserve the Banksy works for all of Ukraine.
“We are grateful to Ajax Systems for fast responding and protecting the paintings,” he said, at an official event held to unveil the new security measures.
“These art objects are war artefacts that we must preserve for Ukrainians. Our cities have suffered from significant destruction, and these art objects represent an unbreakable belief that life will definitely win,” he added.
The boss of Ajax Systems said preserving and protecting the art work was a challenge. “Protecting such objects is a challenge for any security system or installer,” said Valentine Hrytsenko. “There were many obstacles: from destroyed buildings with paintings to no power supply.
“But with the assistance of the Kyiv Regional Administration and the Ministry, we were able to find and bring necessary solutions to life. We are happy to see Ajax products protect culture even in such challenging times,” he added.
Read next:
- The most ridiculous theories about who Banksy is
- Banksy responds to speculation as Stockwood residents spot new framed artwork
- Banksy claims Reading Prison art with Bob Ross video
- Banksy 'is in Ukraine' - speculation mounts as more street art appears
- Banksy 'captured on CCTV in Ukraine' painting work of art near Kyiv
- Police save stolen Banksy artwork in Ukraine
Get the best stories about the things you love most curated by us and delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you love here.
