Banksy’s latest artwork inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic – “If You Don’t Mask, You Don’t Get” – has been accidentally cleaned from the London Underground.
World-famous graffiti and street artist, Banksy, disguised himself as a cleaner on the London Underground to put up his latest artwork, which doubles as a public service announcement reminding people to wear a face mask to do their part during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
The act was recorded and uploaded on Instagram earlier this week, but as people tried to find the artwork, a Transport for London spokesman explained that it had been cleaned by actual London Underground cleaners.
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“We appreciate the sentiment of encouraging people to wear face coverings, which the vast majority of customers on our transport network are doing,” the spokesman commented. “In this particular case, the work was removed some days ago due to our strict anti-graffiti policy. We’d like to offer Banksy the chance to do a new version of his message for our customers in a suitable location.”
Banksy has proven time and time again that there is no “suitable location” for his artwork, so it is unlikely that he will create a new version where he is indicated to do so.
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Despite the announcement, it is highly unlikely that the artwork would have been cleared had the cleaners realized who created it. Sources say that the cleaners “had noticed some sort of ‘rat thing’ a few days ago and cleaned it off, as they should.”