It began with a silhouette of a goat perched on top of a narrow wall near Kew Bridge in London, with falling rocks symbolizing the animal’s precarious position.
Within a week, several silhouettes began to appear around the capital: two elephants trunked towards each other from the barred windows of a house in Chelsea; Three monkeys swing across a bridge on a brick path; A painted wolf howls skywards on the face of a satellite dish on Rye Lane, Peckham.
On Friday, a fifth shadow appeared on a wall, feeding on two pelicans. Walthamstow Fish and Chip Shop.
The secret murals are the work of Banksy. The Bristol-based street artist, whose identity remains unknown, confirmed on his Instagram that the pieces were authentic, but he did not caption any of them – prompting heavy speculation over their meaning.
Some social media users began calling the collection the „London Zoo” series and theorized that Banksy might be comparing the latest far-right rioters to animals. Others linked the images to Gaza, the climate crisis and extinction, Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and the dangerous nature of social media.
Paul Goff, vice-chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth and author of Banksy: The Bristol Legacy, said it was highly unusual for an artist to continue a series of works in this way.
„By quickly releasing pictures through a social media platform, he removed the 'whodunnit’ part that usually dominates the global media,” he said.
„Banksy has often used animals to convey urgent messages about environmental issues, threats to habitat and the impact of climate change. But they are also powerful metaphors for the state of global politics and the chaotic world we have created. Domesticated animals – cows, pigs and sheep – are less palatable animals – chimps, Rats—invariably augmented by acerbic placards with an air of playful thugs.”
Goff, an artist himself Tik Tok rumors spread that he was BanksyHe said he might aim to release a film a day with a grand reveal sometime over the weekend.
„What he’s been doing so far is creating a wildlife of animals, beasts of beasts, that stirs attention and raises the stakes. This is Banksy’s marketing at its best and most impactful, creating an enormous expectation.
„The work is immediately accessible. It’s visually complex, but its simplicity – the stencils and iconic designs – etch themselves into your memory, but with a message that resonates because it’s perfectly aligned with global issues. It’s art with an edge.”
Dr Isobel Harbison, a lecturer in critical studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, was perplexed by the images and the fuss surrounding them.
„They are very basic in many ways,” he said. „There’s probably something meaningful about their general silhouette style — not the usual two-tone — and the fact of their multiplicity.” He said that the appearance of different animals shows that the artist „creates quite a congress”.
“Environment can be a message about ecology or harmony between the built and natural world. If there is a message we should get from our environment this week in London, I think it should be one of acceptance and mutual respect.
„But Banksy’s ideas are usually pretty obvious, so it’s unlikely to remain a mystery for long … I hope so [the art] Stays on walls. It’s a good thing that people are looking up, out and around. „
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Like many of Banksy’s previous works, the Beckham Wolf was stolen hours after it was put on display. Three men were filmed using a ladder to remove a satellite dish from the roof.
The theft confirms that Banksy was not just a street artist working in the shadows. His paintings have set several records at auction, including his seminal Love is in the Bin, which sold for £18.6m at Sotheby’s in 2021 and was described as a „masterpiece of the 21st century”.
For Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones, all of this is a sign that Banksy has „gone to the establishment”.
„He’s become a national treasure, and that’s not a good look for a street artist,” Jones said. „Our collective obsession with these new pretty pictures isn’t a good look for us either. A bit pathetic actually.
„These bland silhouettes of animals wouldn’t be out of place at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. What is provocative, insightful or interesting about them? Is anyone really excited to see what animal comes next?”
Jones said a place for beautiful art made us happy, but doubted anyone would turn to Banksy for that.
„He makes crude stencils without subtlety. These animals are no exception. They give you nothing visually, just a social media buzz. He makes pictures to talk, not art to reflect. He is an enemy of sensibility, a philistine revenger, an artist for people too lazy and narcissistic to open themselves to real art. .
According to Jones, the best thing Banksy can do next is “stop monkeying around, retire and reveal who he really is, because these silly stencils have nothing to tell us or show us. Or maybe we all got it wrong, it’s a commercial teaser campaign: in a few days Banksy will announce his new tropical soft drink or clothing brand.
Goff reiterated that it was important for Banksy to keep his brand in the public eye. „One tactic he’s favored as of late is a video release with an artwork … can we expect to see a Banksy-esque Johnny Morris? Animal magic Maybe?”