Some are outraged that a recent Banksy artwork has been removed from its original location and brought inside a nearby youth club where people can see it for a fee, but the youthclub say that may have been Banksy’s original intention.
The Mobile Lovers pieces, which depicts two lovers embracing while looking at their smartphones, was posted on Banky’s website on Monday and discovered on Clement Street, Bristol a day later.
However, within hours, staff from the nearby Riverside Youth Project removed the screws and used a crowbar to remove the artwork, which was only painted on plywood, leaving a sign saying:
The new Banksy piece is being held in our club to prevent any vandilism (sic) or damage being done.
You are free to come and view but a small donation will be asked of you.
Thanks
In response to some people describing the actions of the club as selfish and opportunistic, Gordon Powell, a youth worker from the club, told the BBC:
“We’re open all the time, day and night, so people can come and see it for a small donation.
The club is 120 years old and we need £120,000 to keep the club open.
There’s a massive wall he [Banksy] could have done it on but he didn’t, so we think he did it to help us raise the money.”
