MYSTERIOUS STREET ARTIST ‘3’ STRIKES AGAIN
Plaque ‘in loving memory of humanity’ left on bench
A PLAQUE “in loving memory of humanity” on a bench in Cleethorpes is the latest in a series of mysterious pieces of ‘street art’ that have appeared in the area in recent weeks.
The engraved plate, which also features the words “I did my best”, has been attached to a seat on Central Promenade.
It is signed off with the number ‘3’, similar to numerous cryptic messages and signs – some which have a political undertone – that have appeared around North East Lincolnshire over the past year.
However, while the earlier messages suggested the artist was “here to save the world from self-destruction”, the latest piece implies they believe this isn’t going to happen.
There has also recently been a £10 note attached to a canvas with the word ‘Nequam’ – Latin for ‘worthless’ – on a window near Grimsby Library signed by the artist. Meanwhile, the word ‘Freedom’ was stuck on a canvas with black vertical lines drawn through it on the window of the former Santander bank in St Peter’s Avenue, Grimsby, last month in what could interpreted as a statement on the coronavirus lockdown.
The mysterious street artist, known only as ‘3’, got residents talking last summer when a number of strange messages were posted across the area. In July, a mysterious series of symbols appeared at the junction of Hainton Avenue and Bradley Street. Several people managed to decipher the message, which read: “Anyone can work out a code, deciphering the message is the hard part.”
It turned out the note was a precursor for another that was stuck to a wall in Abbey Road a few days later. That one, which was written in binary code, had a more substantial message, with a darker tone that revealed a little more about the artist’s raison d’etre.
It read: “Here to save the world from self-destruction. Humanity is dead and I am the saviour. See me in streets.” A now-deleted Twitter profile explained that the second note “wasn’t a reference to ‘something’s going to happen’”, but the statement “see me in the streets” was simply referring to the street art itself.
It also appeared ‘3’ was claiming to be behind the skeleton that was found hanging by a noose from the gates of Cleethorpes Cemetery in September 2018. That controversial display also featured police tape in front of the skeleton, which itself had “set Liberi” (set free) written on its forehead and was bearing a necklace featuring the pound sterling symbol.
Last year, the enigmatic figure also uploaded a video of a shadowy figure donning a black hoodie and wearing a creepy mask.
Anyone can work out a code, deciphering the message is the hard part Artist ‘3’