Banksy’s Christmas gift comes with a message...
IT’S Birmingham’s latest tourist attraction – and could become a visitor must-see for years to come.
There have been many imitators, but the Second City finally has an authentic Banksy.
The secretive street artist created the work overnight late last week, in the Jewellery Quarter’s Vyse Street.
Apparently two men in high-vis vests erected a tent in the early hours before the image of a pair of reindeer pulling a bench appeared.
But the artwork came with a message, as a video of an apparently homeless man sleeping on the bench appeared on the mystery artist’s website.
Since the 1990s, Banksy has been famous for his politically-charged murals in public places across the globe.
The image of the reindeer and the homeless man called Ryan was posted on Instagram on Monday, with the artist captioning it God bless Birmingham.
Banksy added: “In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hot drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter – without him ever asking for anything.”
Other Banksy pictures have previously sold for many hundreds of thousands of pounds.
On Tuesday security guards moved in to protect the work after another graffiti artist painted red noses on the reindeer.
The artwork, besides the Jewellery Quarter station, has now been covered with sheets of perspex by Network Rail.
Steve Lovell, marketing manager at the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District, said: “When we learned a Banksy had appeared, we were obviously delighted.
“It is truly an incredible and thought-provoking piece, which highlighted a genuine crisis in our city. But we were astounded to hear it had been defaced so soon.
“A young guy just jumped over the barriers and sprayed two noses on it... which is inaccurate to start with as only Rudolph has a red nose.
“He was asking the crowds whether he should do it and people were begging him, ‘please don’t do it’.
“We are now considering how to protect it as there was even talk of thieves coming and stealing it brick by brick. It’s a railway bridge so that would be extremely dangerous.
“But Banksy has himself admitted his work gets defaced, it is street art at the end of the day. There is so much footfall past the painting so we want to protect it the best we can because we are honoured to have a Banksy here in the city.”
David Golding, interim route managing director for Network Rail’s Central route, said: “As a railway family, our hearts go out to the homeless, especially at this time of year.
“Banksy’s wall art has captured their plight so well. It’s right we protect it so everyone can see it.”