Banksy Strikes Again with a Corrosive Christmas Image

The mural Snow appears on the wall of a shed in South Wales to denounce the dangerous level of pollution in the region. The Port Talbot Council has offered to take charge of it..

Snow (2018), by Banksy. Image courtesy of the artist

Ian Lewis, the owner of a shed located in Port Talbot (South Wales), never imagined he would have such a special gift this Christmas. The week before the holidays, on the exterior wall of his structure a work by one of the most highly-valued artists of the contemporary art scene appeared as if by magic: Banksy. The mural Snow depicts a child dressed in winter clothes, trying to catch a snowflake with his tongue. A snowflake? In reality, it is ash from a bonfire lit in a rubbish bin… located on the other corner of the garage. Poetry, provocation and art join hands once again in this work by the mysterious artist (or artists): Banksy has already confirmed his authorship through a photo published on his Instagram account with the caption Season’s Greetings. As of today, more than 20,000 people have already made the pilgrimage to Port Talbot to see the work live and, of course, to take a selfie with it. The Welsh stencil adds to the artist’s broad trajectory, whose mysterious biography and powerful works awaken the admiration of millions of people around the world.

Banksy confirms his authorship of the mural Snow. On Wochit News.

The choice of the Welsh city for the creation of this mural is not accidental. Port Talbot, home to the largest steelworks in the entire United Kingdom, is one of the most polluted cities in the country. The work has been a double-edged gift for its current owner, who is part of the workforce of the aforementioned plant. In statements to the BBC, Lewis spoke about the difficulties of protecting the work from vandalism and theft. “I am in free fall, it has been too much for me”. Thanks to the help of actor Michael Sheen, Lewis has been able to place plexiglass screens and railings around the graffiti, in addition to hiring private security. Meanwhile, the Port Talbot Council has offered to take charge of the work and move it to another location in exchange for its permanent transfer (by way of a loan) to the city.

More information: Banksy: biography, videos and best works

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