The artist claimed the mural as his own in an Instagram post yesterday, following a morning of speculation after it appeared on a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park.
Residents told the PA news agency they are “proud and delighted” at the thought of the anonymous artist choosing their street for his latest mural.
Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: “We’re so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.
“Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents. We just feel so proud.”
Bright green paint has been sprayed on the building, in front of a cut-back tree, creating the impression of being its foliage. A stencil of a person holding a pressure hose has also been sketched on to the building.
The vivid paint colour matches that used by Islington Council for street signs in the area.
Neighbours gathered to take photographs and selfies with the mural yesterday morning, and to speculate on its creator.
Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: “The way it’s been done, with the paint spraying down, reminds me of a weeping willow, so there’s perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front. It’s just great – when we read about it last night, we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible.”
Members of the public look at the new Banksy artwork (Ella Nunn/PA)
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was delighted to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency.
“Banksy’s come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery.
“We’re the most densely populated constituency in the country and I’m just delighted,” the MP said.
“It gives the idea that we could do with much more greenery everywhere and I think that’s a really nice message.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he is ‘delighted’ to see the new Banksy artwork in his Islington North constituency (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Banksy usually confirms his artwork via his Instagram and website.
Before this piece, his last confirmed work was in December, when he painted military drones on to a stop sign in Peckham, south-east London.
The bright green paint used for the mural matches that used by Islington Council for street signs in the area (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Banksy usually confirms his artwork via his Instagram and website.
Before this piece, his last confirmed work was in December, when he painted military drones on to a stop sign in Peckham, south-east London.
That work was removed less than an hour after it was confirmed on the artist’s social media to be genuine, with witnesses reporting it was taken down by a man with bolt cutters.
Two men were later arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.
Alex Georgiou, whose company owns the building with the new mural said:
Banksy usually confirms his artwork via his Instagram and website (Jonathan Brady/PA)
“I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyone’s loving it which is great, I just can’t really believe it still to be honest.”
PA understands that Islington Council’s graffiti removal team is aware of the artwork and will not remove it.
https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/banksy-confirms-new-mural-in-north-london-as-locals-delighted-street-artist-chose-their-area-for-latest-piece/a93579440.html
