Banksy, remaining a mysterious and anonymous street artist, has been traveling across the world and leaving his thought-provoking artworks on the walls and architectural objects of many European and American cities. One such city is Venice, a place where Banksy stayed for a while in 2019, leaving several well-known art pieces. Here is a brief introduction to Banksy street art in Venice and the municipal authorities’ efforts to protect it in unfavorable environmental conditions.
Banksy street art in Venice
Banksy’s visit coincided with the prestigious art event held in Venice in 2019 – the Venice Biennale. All artworks that he created during his stay reflect the pressing environmental and over-tourism issues that Venice has been facing for many decades. These include:
- The Flower Thrower. Banksy’s iconic art piece, it depicts a man who is about to throw a bouquet in a manner similar to a Molotov cocktail. Experts have associated it with Banksy’s peace message about the power of non-violence.
- The Refugee/Migrant Child. This mural features a child in a life vest, holding a distress flare. It calls the audience’s attention to the aggravating refugee crisis in Europe.
- Venice in Oil. This artwork represented a set of paintings depicting a large cruise ship, so it is commonly associated with Banksy’s message on the dangers of aggressive tourism for the old, fragile city of Venice.
- Gondola with Garbage. Banksy combined the icon of Venice – gondola – with the most pressing problem of the city – garbage – to explore the intricate balance between conservation and pollution.
Each of these art pieces was created in the signature Banksy style, welcoming the public to embrace the artist’s unique interpretations of the Venice heartbeat and ecological problems of large cities.
Banksy art endangered: restoration efforts
Street art objects are exceptionally vulnerable to external impacts, ranging from environmental factors to human impact. Banksy street art in Venice was no exception, as his murals and installations also faced the disastrous impact of the rising water level.
One such work is The Migrant Child, which was initially painted close to the water level and suffered from the heaviest impact of rising tides. The troubling situation was noticed by the local government in 2023, with Italy’s undersecretary for culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, starting the mural’s restoration project. Though the mural was technically not eligible for the Italian cultural heritage protection coverage, Sgarbi liaised with Banca Ifis to fund the restoration. Read more about this project here.