A recent Banksy artwork, revealed by the artist himself on Instagram, features the silhouette of a howling wolf on a satellite dish.
The piece, which appeared on Rye Lane at Peckham, South London, was the fourth in a series of animal-themed artworks over the past week but the first to have been stolen.
(Photo : Screenshot from Banksy's Official Instagram Account)
Banksy's Stolen Fourth Artwork
According to BBC, witnesses described seeing a group of men dismantling the satellite dish on which the artwork was painted. One witness, Tom Kellow, recounted the moment he filmed the removal, only to be physically confronted by the men. "They saw me filming and it got a bit tetchy. One gave me a kick in the side and another tried to throw my phone on the roof,"
Kellow mentioned that he immediately informed a police officer nearby.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had received reports of a "stolen satellite dish containing artwork" but have not made any arrests.
The Banksy press team also expressed their belief that the piece had indeed been stolen.
The howling wolf artwork was the fourth Banksy to appear in the city in four days. Earlier in the week, Banksy had claimed credit for three other pieces, including two elephant silhouettes in Chelsea and three monkeys on a railway bridge in Brick Lane.
Also Read: 3 Monkeys Swinging Over Brick Lane is Banksy's 3rd Artwork in London
Removal of Banksy's Artwork
This was not the first time a Banksy artwork had been removed.
According to Design Times , in 2013, the council removed a controversial artwork due to its "offensive and racist remarks." The artwork, which appeared in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, depicted five grey pigeons holding signs aimed at a more colorful migratory swallow.
Messages on the signs included "Go back to Africa," "migrants not welcome," and "keep off our worms."
Douglas Carswell, a local Conservative MP representing the UK Independence Party (UKIP), reportedly influenced the removal decision. The mural was widely interpreted as a critique of UKIP's stance on immigration, with many seeing it as a pointed commentary on the party's argument that Britain's immigration policies are too lenient.
Related Article: Banksy Adds New Elephants Artwork in Chelsea London Just a Day After Goat Stencil
