Three works by the street art artist Banksy were seized by police as part of an investigation in south-east Wales. Police in Gwent seized a sculpture, a satirical portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and another work by the artist.
The sculpturetitled ‘Grappling Hook’ was created by Banksy in 2017 for a politically themed exhibition at The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. The acrylic and shellac on wood artwork depicts a figure of Jesus on a cross which is also a military hook.
In September 2019, Sotheby’s sold a signed version of the sculpture and an original box of cardboard for $130,264.
The Monkey Queen project is a color series of Banksy posters created in 2003. At least seven editions of the poster were sold by Sotheby’s for $19,215 to $64,674 in several different auctions from September 2019 to April 2022, the EPA reports.
According to a report by the Evening Standard, court documents said Welsh authorities also seized Banksy’s “White Tower” work, worth $2,085. The works of art were seized in March 2021 as part of a criminal investigation against a 35-year-old man.
When asked by the newspaper, the Gwent police could not give details about the seizure of the works of art. The questions were not answered “where are the works” and “what will happen in the future,” the publication states. The police clarified only that no comments can be made if they are pending criminal prosecutions and that an order for Banksy’s works to continue to remain under police supervision was granted by Newport Magistrates’ Court in September last year. The decision is expected to be reviewed at the end of the month.
Source: News Beast
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