The chest freezer which was incorporated into a new Banksy wall painting has been removed from the area, allegedly due to fly-tipping. The Bristol artist's new work was discovered on a side wall in Margate, Kent, and was claimed by the elusive artist today (February 14) with a series of photos of the piece on his Instagram account.
Titled Valentine’s Day Mascara, the piece depicts a 1950s housewife, wearing a blue pinny and yellow washing-up gloves, with a swollen eye and a missing tooth seemingly shoving her male partner into a chest freezer. The resident of the property where the painting was created, who asked not to be named, told the PA news agency the freezer and other items used for the artwork had been removed at midday today.
It has not been confirmed as of yet whether Thanet District Council was behind removing the items. Discussing how she felt about the removal, the tenant said: “I’m absolutely upset because it’s not really nice.
Read more: New UK Banksy confirmed: 'Mascara' artwork unveiled for Valentine's Day
"It was part of the art, they should be very happy because Margate could get bigger attention, positive attention. Why did they move those parts? It’s just silly.”
She claimed she asked the people who removed the items why they were doing so and they replied: “Someone told them on the council, they are just doing the task, it’s not their idea but they must do it.”
According to ITV, people looked on as the freezer and chair were removed. One worker was quoted by ITV as saying: "We've been sent to take it, it's a health hazard."
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