Latest Banksy artworks spark debate on animal captivity
Nine wild animal-themed works by the graffiti artist have appeared in London, but what do they mean?
(c) @Banksy / instagram.com
Throughout early August, a trail of graffiti animals appeared around London – confirmed to be by world-famous graffiti artist Banksy.
Starting on August 5th, the nine-part series began with a goat, appearing to be teetering on the edge of a ledge, with rocks falling below. Over the next eight days, more works appeared including two elephants reaching their trunks towards each other as they lean out of two windows; three monkeys hanging from a railway bridge; a rhino mounting a car with a traffic cone on its bonnet; and a wolf howling at the moon.
What is believed to be the final piece of the series appeared on Tuesday 13th August, on one of the shutters of London Zoo. The artwork depicts a gorilla, lifting the bottom of the shutter to free animals, including birds and a sea lion.
As each piece of art has appeared, the conversation around what they might mean has grown. Banksy is notorious for leaving his work open to interpretation, and on his own Instagram account has simply posted each image with no caption.
While many theories on the meaning have been bounded around, the final piece at London Zoo has led many, including Banksy experts, to believe that the series represents a ‘great escape’ of all these animals from the zoo and is designed to draw attention to the plight of animals in captivity.
Banksy is known to have an interest in animal welfare, including ecological themes in his work, and has previously worked with the charity Greenpeace.
Born Free supporters have been quick to join the conversation, when posed with the question ‘What does this say to you?’ and a photo of the artwork at London Zoo on Instagram Stories.
More than 100 people responded, with suggestions including:
“No animal should be kept in a zoo”
“Let them all go free”
“Zoos are prisons and animals deserve so much better from us”
“They have a lot of secrets brushed under the rug and [the] gorilla knows all of them”
“Shut all zoos – free the animals to rescue centres and no more breeding”
“Zoos are cages for our own amusement, animals should not be exploited like this in this day and age”
“Animals belong in the wild”
“No animal wants to be trapped behind bars. Let them all be free!”
Born Free’s Captivity Research & Policy Manager, Chris Lewis said, “It is great to see that this work has once again brought the issue of wild animals being kept in captivity to the forefront of people’s minds and generated so much conversation. In 2022, polling commissioned by Born Free, found that 76% of the British public felt it was important that the next UK government phase out the keeping of large animals, such as elephants, giraffes, big cats and polar bears, from zoos and other captive facilities. The reaction of the public to Banksy’s work may in fact demonstrate an even wider shift in opinion about the place of zoos in modern society.”
What do you think the meaning is behind Banksy’s animal artworks? Join in the conversation with @BornFreeFoundation on social media.
Find out more about the issues facing animals in zoos & aquaria