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Venice authorities removed Banksy mural, sparking international debate on the transience of street art

Venice authorities removed Banksy mural, sparking international debate on the transience of street art

Banksy's famous mural, titled "Migrant Child," has been removed from the wall of the Palazzo San Pantalon in Venice and sent for conservation. But is this truly in keeping with the spirit of street art?

The world's most famous street artist captures the attention of his fans, art connoisseurs, and the media with each of his works. His murals have always been distinguished by their distinctive style , but they also address important social and political themes . This was no different with his work titled "The Migrant Child."

The mural was painted in 2019 on the wall of the Palazzo San Pantalon , a building located along the Rio Novo canal in the heart of Venice's Dorsoduro district . The king of street art painted a child in a life jacket holding a pink smoke flare, a reference to the refugee crisis.

The Migrant Child mural / photo: Unsplash, Elisaveta Bunduche The Migrant Child mural / photo: Unsplash, Elisaveta Bunduche

While the mural's placement on the canal-facing façade complemented its theme, it only served to its detriment. Years of exposure to damp conditions had caused significant damage to the mural . The owner of Palazzo San Pantalon , Banca Ifis , decided to take care of it.

Banksy's Venice mural removed

A team led by conservator Federico Borgogni carefully removed the section of wall painted over by Banksy . It was then transported to a conservation laboratory . The mural is currently being restored.

The Palazzo San Pantalon building will also be renovated and transformed into a modern exhibition space. The renowned studio Zaha Hadid Architects , in collaboration with Th&Ma Architettura , will oversee this project.

And what's next for the mural? Banca Ifis plans to exhibit the restored work as part of its cultural initiative , Ifis Art . Is this good news? Not for everyone. Since last year, when rumors of the mural's alleged relocation surfaced, the matter has been discussed by city residents and the Italian art community.

Does restoring Banksy's mural contradict the spirit of street art?

Critics of the idea of restoring the work have pointed out that one of the fundamental elements of street art is its transience , and damaging the mural was part of its message. Moving "The Migrant Child" indoors completely changes its context.

" Banksy was no fool. He knew perfectly well that his work by the water wasn't meant to last forever. The restoration goes against his intentions," the artist, nicknamed Evyrein , said in a 2023 interview with Euronowes .

What do you think? Should the work be left in its place and deteriorate, or would it be better if it were restored and moved to a safe location?

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