BANKSY STATUE

 

BANKSY STATUE

    It doesn’t take much to lure me - and my camera - into central London. So the sudden appearance of a Banksy statue in Waterloo Place was irresistible, especially as summer seems to have arrived.

     Behind the scaffolding is the Athenaeum club, with its golden statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. For more about the clubs of Pall Mall click here.

      The resin statue was first spotted early on April 29 and, as people flocked to see it, Westminster Council swiftly surrounded it with barriers. Banksy hasn’t said what it represents, so you can hazard your own guesses - blind patriotism, perhaps. To me, it reflects the blinkered behaviour of some of our world leaders as they step blindly into the unknown.

     It is not known how long the statue will remain in Waterloo Place. There's a theory the powers that be knew about its arrival - otherwise we should be concerned how an object bigger than a bomb could be plonked overnight in the centre of the city. 

     I wouldn’t be surprised if some old fuddy-duddy claims the new statue debases those of Edward VII (on horseback) and the Duke of York. But they themselves were hardly saints. Let’s not forget Edward VII’s nickname was “Dirty Bertie”, and the (Grand Old) Duke of York, second son of George III, was investigated over army abuses – perhaps for marching 10,000 men up and down a hill.

     Click here for lots more on Banksy.


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