Banksy fans 'explain meaning' of new piece and say it's their 'favourite'

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Banksy has unveiled his latest piece of artwork, and fans are delighted – but some are puzzled over the meaning of the enigmatic artist's newest piece
Banksy fans are buzzing over the enigmatic artist's new piece. The artwork, in an undisclosed location, depicts the phrase "I want to be what you saw in me" set against a moody silhouette of a lighthouse.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday (May 29), the Bristol-born street shared two images of the mural, which had followers declaring it could be one of Banksy 's best. One said: "This could be my favourite piece yet." Meanwhile another chimed in: "Give light and people will find the way."
Meanwhile, others were left wondering what the piece means. One wrote: "We should be supporting/helping the messages this art brings to light in society. Instead people have stolen and tried to profit off of it.
"Many people miss the meaning/message that is portrayed in the art but instead use it as a photo selfie opportunity. I don't want to know who Banksy is because I feel it will dim the light on the messages Banksy is trying to get across.
To this, another responded: "I agree but what if you just explained the meaning of this piece???? Look at what the art says... then look at what you wrote... 'it will dim the light...'".
"A silent cry for redemption... The lighthouse is a symbol of hope and guidance," another pointed out.
Banksy is known for making political statements with his art, tackling issues from immigration and homelessness to the war in Ukraine. In 2005, Banksy and his team painted seven distinct murals on the West Bank Wall in protest against its construction, which was deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice.
However, some of Banksy's creations have less explicit messages and leaving fans guessing.
To this day, the meaning behind some of the artist's work eludes fans.
The true meaning of this latest work has not been shared, nor has its location – although people have speculated that it may be in London or Marseille, France.
The quote used by Banksy may also have been taken from a song by Tennessee country band Lonestar, titled Softly.
It features the lyric: "I want to be what you see in me. I want to love you the way that you love me."
Last summer, Banksy released a series of animal artworks around London over a period of nine consecutive days, including monkeys, wolves, pelicans, goats, cats and elephants.
They are all painted in his traditional black stencil style, starting with a mountain goat at Kew Bridge on August 5.
This was followed by the elephants in Chelsea, monkeys on Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets, a lone wolf at Rye Lane, Peckham, pelicans in Walthamstow, a black panther on Edgware Road, piranhas at Ludgate Hill, rhinos on Westmoor Street, Charlton and finally, with a gorilla on the security shutters of London Zoo.