Banksy was here
DELIGHT AS FAMOUS ARTIST MAKES HIS MARK ON CITY
CROWDS gathered in a small Nottingham street on Saturday morning as world-famous incognito artist Banksy confirmed he was responsible for a new piece of city artwork.
The spray-painted image of a young girl playing hula hoop with a bicycle tyre, next to a real bike with a missing wheel, appeared last week.
People began to wonder whether the mural in Rothesay Avenue, off Ilkeston Road, could be a genuine Banksy.
Experts in the city raised doubts about its origins, and another street artist, Birmingham-based Itchers, even laid claim to it.
However, Banksy confirmed it was his own work when the image was unveiled on his official Instagram page.
The news was met with delight in Nottingham.
Tessa O’connor, 46, and daughter Lamara-grace O’connor, 4, went to see it for themselves.
Tessa said: “I knew about it from the news, and social media and when I realised where it was, I couldn’t believe it. My grandma used to live here and I grew up round here.
“It’s a huge honour he chose to put it here and that it definitely is him.
“I do like it - especially because my daughter has claimed it as her.”
PEOPLE from across Nottingham flocked to see a new piece of street art at the weekend after anonymous artist Banksy confirmed it was his.
The mural, on a wall in Rothesay Avenue, Lenton, appeared last week.
It depicts a young girl hula-hooping with the missing tyre of a battered bike left in front of the mural and chained to a lamppost.
Following its confirmation as an original Banksy, Nottingham City Council, which quickly placed a plastic screen over the mural to protect it, said it would be taking advice over what to do next.
It has pointed out the use of a bike in the mural could be Banksy’s way of referencing the old Raleigh bike factory that was situated nearby.
Art critics had their doubts over the mural’s authenticity initially, but an Instagram post by the worldrenowned street artist on Saturday confirmed it was his, causing crowds to flock to see the mural.
Antonia Gardner, 48, a commercial real estate lawyer, said: “I think there was some doubt about whether it was genuine at first, no one could believe it.
“But it was exciting and an interesting story so I took my daughter to see it on the way home from school.
“She loved it, she said the little girl looked about her age (eight) and really happy hulahooping with the bike tyre.
“Raleigh is part of Nottingham history, and lately we’ve been in the news for the wrong reasons, probably most obviously as having the highest Covid rates in the just hours later the screen was country. vandalised and then again
“Nottingham’s for a second occasion diverse, resilient the next day. and we’ll get This vandalism through this. was cleaned off by Having the two women, who Banksy confirmed spent two and a as genuine half hours at the has given task. us a much Speaking after needed boost, Banksy confirmed the it’s amazing.” artwork as his own on
When the artwork Instagram, a spokesman first became known on for Nottingham City Council Thursday, the council moved to said: “It’s amazing that Banksy has protect it by placing a perspex now confirmed the artwork as his. screen over the top of it. However, “The fact that the artwork features a bike could be a reference to the Raleigh factory that used to be nearby, famous for its role in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, the novel by local author Alan Sillitoe and iconic 1960 film starring Albert Finney.
“We took steps on Thursday to protect the artwork with a temporary perspex cover. Now that we know it’s a genuine Banksy, we will be taking advice on what should happen next.”
University of Nottingham student Dan Ahmet, 23, lives on the same street as the creation.
He said: “When I first saw it, didn’t see the big deal. But now I get it.
“Maybe he chose it because of the high student area. It makes us a bit happier because we can’t go out or do much at the moment.”
Ellie Fox, 19, a second year University of Nottingham student, who lives in Rothesay Avenue, said: “It’s pretty crazy - I was not expecting it at all. My friend saw it and thought it could be a Banksy. Every day we’re seeing more people. It is so lucky they put the screen up.”
Asked why Banksy might have chosen this spot, she said: “It’s actually so nice because maybe he knows how hard it is here for us in Nottingham at the moment and is giving something else for people to think about rather than coronavirus.
“Because it’s just on the corner people can spot it from the main road, too. It might change the perception of this street.”
Police also arrived at the scene on Saturday morning. It is understood this was to ensure the work was not defaced and also to ensure crowds maintained social distancing.
Local celebrities including Line of Duty star Vicky Mcclure and comedian Matt Forde have commented on the artwork.
The Post has attempted to contact Banksy for more information.
Raleigh is part of our city’s history. Lately we’ve been in the news for the wrong reasons.
Antonia Gardner