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Is this ‘posing considerable risk of injury’ for passers-by? |
Art shelved as health and safety bosses rule: ‘Only Banksy allowed’
Carpenters came under cover of night and installed a six-inch health risk, says council
BANKSY’S stencilled maid, a familiar sight on the back wall of the Roundhouse, might just be the loneliest woman in Chalk Farm – it seems whatever company she keeps is swiftly removed by higher powers.
The graffiti artist’s celebrated cleaner has long raised hopes that the wall in Regent’s Park Road might become a hot-bed of local creativity, but when a mysterious wooden mantelpiece was screwed into place by a mystery carpenter on Monday night it met the same sticky fate as all its predecessors – removal.
At just six inches wide, the mantelpiece was hardly a major art installation but council officials insisted it had to be removed on – you guessed it – health and safety grounds and within 24 hours it was gone.
Luckily the New Journal snapped a picture early on Tuesday morning before it was destroyed.
The decision has annoyed critics who believe it’s a case of one law for Banksy – whose stencil is touched up and repaired – and another for lesser-known street artists, whose work is removed apparently with hardly any consideration of its creative merits.
Gino Mansi, one of the owners of Marine Ices restaurant opposite, said: “If they’re going to clean the wall they should clean the whole wall. It should suffer the same fate, otherwise it’s favouritism isn’t it?”
Anna Viniers, who lives in nearby Primrose Hill, added: “The mantelpiece was a statement – someone reclaiming the wall from Banksy. This wall belongs to the community, not to Banksy. I’d rather buy a painting by an elephant than a Banksy.”
Conservative environment chief Councillor Mike Greene, a self-confessed Banksy fan, has spoken of his desire to have designated areas for people to “go wild with a paintbrush” and express their artistic side.
He was unavailable for comment all day but his group leader Councillor Andrew Marshall admitted apparent double standards for Banksy works were “a difficult issue”.
He said: “The mantelpiece was clever but we don’t want people just to leave stuff in the street. We’re supporters of genuine artistic creativity but at the same time we don’t want to encourage a culture where painting what you don’t own is generally acceptable.”
Banksy’s work has sold for as much as £1 million. While other graffiti on the Chalk Farm wall is swiftly whitewashed, the precious maid has received regular paint touch-ups to guard against wear and tear.
Prior to its removal, the mantelpiece had attracted its fair share of artistic plaudits.
Labour ward councillor Pat Callaghan said: “I’m all for it. It’s a very boring spot there. I’m definitely not advocating its removal. It doesn’t stick out too far so I don’t think it’s a hazard for the visually impaired.”
Nadia Carney (pictured), originally from Belsize Park, said: “I like the fact that Banksy is inspiring other people to create art. Who knows, there might be a bowl of flowers on the mantelpiece tomorrow – this could grow and grow.”
But Camden council had the final say. A spokeswoman said: “The mantelpiece next to the Banksy mural in Chalk Farm had to be removed for safety reasons. It blended in with the colour of the Roundhouse wall posing considerable risk of injury for passers-by.” |
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