\n The seemingly satirical monument, which bears Banksy\u2019s signature on its plinth, has been drawing crowds to London\u2019s Waterloo Place since it popped up in the early hours of Wednesday morning. An apparent commentary on the idea of blind patriotism, it stands among statues of important British historical figures including King Edward VII and Captain Scott.\n <\/p>\n
\n The video posted to Banksy\u2019s Instagram Thursday shows an older gentleman walking up to the sculpture saying, \u201cI don\u2019t like it.\u201d But many commentors on social media reacted positively to the new work. \u201cA compelling statement on collective blindness \u2013 forward motion without vision, without preparation,\u201d said one Instagram user.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cReally powerful,\u201d the user added. \u201cThe flag carries no identity \u2013 no country, no allegiance \u2013 just a form, making the figure universal\u2026 and somehow still unmistakably directed.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n By Thursday afternoon, London authorities had erected barriers around the statue. Westminster City Council, which oversees the area, told the BBC<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019re excited to see Banksy\u2019s latest sculpture in Westminster, making a striking addition to the city\u2019s vibrant public art scene. While we have taken initial steps to protect the statue, at this time it will remain accessible for the public to view and enjoy.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The stunt comes less than two months after the Reuters news agency claimed that it had revealed Banksy\u2019s identity<\/a> in a sprawling investigation. Banksy, according to Reuters, is a bespectacled middle-aged man from Bristol named Robin Gunningham, though the artist did not confirm or deny his identity.\n <\/p>\n \n The apparent unmasking of Banksy, who has gone to great lengths to preserve his anonymity since his work began appearing around the UK in the 1990s, sparked controversy, with fans and collectors questioning how the revelation might affect the value and resonance of his work.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cI wanted the memory of the anonymous artist \u2013 and the mystery behind that \u2013 to live on,\u201d Nico Epstein, a Lisbon-based art consultant, told CNN in March.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cBanksy is a superhero for many, many people. People want to believe that fairy tale and now it\u2019s come to a close.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Banksy is best known for using stencils and spray paint to depict his political, satirical and often subversive messages, though he has produced several statues and sculptures in his three-decade career. In 2004, he took credit for a sculpture<\/a> depicting a pensive nude bronze figure wearing a traffic cone as a hat called \u201cThe Drinker\u201d \u2013 a play on Auguste Rodin\u2019s \u201cThe Thinker\u201d \u2013 that appeared in London\u2019s West End.\n <\/p>\n \n Although Banksy emerged from the Bristol graffiti scene, many of his most famous works have appeared in London, including the \u201cGirl with Balloon\u201d<\/a> murals, which began popping up in the city in 2002.\n <\/p>\n ![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gettyimages-2273853907.jpg\")
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