A new mural by Banksy has popped up in west London, depicting two children lying on the ground and gazing at the sky. The artist revealed his creation above a row of garages on Queen’s Mews in Bayswater, sharing a photo on his Instagram account.
Interestingly, a similar artwork appeared outside the Centre Point tower in central London just days before. However, Banksy’s team hasn’t confirmed if it’s from him.
Art expert Daniel Lloyd-Morgan believes the location at Centre Point highlights the issue of child homelessness. He noted that many children are struggling, especially during the holiday season. “It’s a busy area, yet people walk by without stopping. They pass by homeless individuals without really seeing them,” he said. The mural suggests a sense of wonder, as the children seem to be looking up, reminiscent of dreaming big.
Centre Point itself has a long history tied to homelessness. Once a vacant building for over a decade after its completion in 1966, it sits today as high-end flats. Its name even inspired the homelessness charity Centrepoint, founded by Rev. Ken Leech, who called the tower “an affront to the homeless.”
Jason Tomkins, a Banksy expert, echoes the sentiment around the mural’s message. He believes it offers a poignant commentary on homelessness and recognizes a familiar figure: a young boy who was also in a previous Banksy piece from Port Talbot back in 2018. “It’s unusual for him to reuse characters like this,” Tomkins remarked.
The continued discussion about these murals highlights the importance of art in addressing societal issues. As Banksy’s work reminds us, sight and perspective can often be skewed in busy city life. Art can be a powerful medium to provoke thought and inspire change.
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