How Banksy installed a statue in central London and what awaits it
Banksy's latest work — a large statue of a man in a suit marching into the abyss with a flag on his head — appeared in Waterloo Place on Wednesday under the cover of night. This location is in the historic center of London, near Buckingham Palace and government buildings. Despite the high level of security in the area, the artist managed to quickly place the monument thanks to a professional team.
Photo: Getty Image
James Peak, a BBC podcast author about Banksy, asked the same question that many others would like to hear an answer to:
“How did he bring a trailer with a crane to such a guarded place and how did he put a large plastic statue on the pedestal?”
From fragmented shots from a video the artist posted on his Instagram on Thursday, one can guess how it was done.
Creating the statue probably took several months, but installing it had to be lightning fast.
The video shows road cones cordoning off the area, a large vehicle driving away, the outriggers of a crane lowered, a man in an orange vest, and a man in safety glasses. Then, in the frame, a crane lifting the statue.
“He has a very large team, a very, very experienced team,” says Peak. “These are the kind of guys who can set up a stage for a Metallica concert in 24 hours. Cool guys, very organized and professional at that.”
“They probably surveyed the area, figured out what was happening there and when, arrived at night with a trailer-crane, at the quietest time, and apparently installed the statue in a few minutes,” James Peak continues.
The statue stands in Waterloo Place, next to the statues of Edward VII, the Crimean War memorial, and the monument to Florence Nightingale (the legendary nurse from the same war of 1853-1856 — editor's note). This is a historic place, known for its majestic architecture and numerous monuments. It is located near The Mall and Buckingham Palace. In addition, there are many government buildings, foreign embassies, and old gentlemen's clubs on Pall Mall nearby.
What people are saying about the statue
Judging by the comments under Banksy's post, the statue was very well received. "Classic Banksy," writes one commentator. "Always on point," another supports. "Come on, tell me, tell me it's there permanently," a third requests.
The statue, as is usually the case with Banksy's works, made news not only in Britain but around the world.
“It's very clever. It very accurately captures the moment, which other statues usually fail to do — the moment when the flag blinds this pompous leader in a suit, and he is about to step into the abyss, and looks very foolish,” says James Peak.
“Perhaps Banksy believes that all these ‘strong leaders’ and belligerent sentiments are not very good,” suggests the author of the podcast about Banksy.
What the authorities say
Westminster City Council told the BBC that they had not given permission for the statue to be installed and Banksy's team had not informed them of their plans.
“We are delighted to have a new Banksy sculpture in Westminster. A wonderful addition to the city's rich tapestry of public art,” the council spokesperson noted.
What's next?
In the past, Banksy's works have been stolen, but in this case, theft is less likely — simply due to the size of the statue. However, Banksy once placed a sculpture in London, and it was soon stolen. This was in 2004: he installed "The Drinker" statue on Shaftesbury Avenue — quite close to Waterloo Place — which parodied Rodin's "The Thinker". "The Drinker" was recovered ten years later.
Other works have been preserved and are sometimes exhibited in museums. Local authorities have not yet decided what to do with this statue.
“We have taken steps to protect the statue, and as long as access to it is open, the public can admire and enjoy it,” said the Westminster City Council spokesperson.
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