The maverick street artist Banksy has installed another daring, political and controversial stencil in London on the walls of the Royal Courts Of Justice.
Meaning
The image depicts a wigged judge dynamically towering over a fallen protester, clubbing the protester with his “Silence in Court, I sentence you” gavel. The prostrate protester on their back attempts to defend themselves with a protest sign that is splattered with their blood Evidently the judge is making multiple assaults on the protester.
Banky’s meaning is quite clear, in general it’s about the suppression of the freedom or right to use protest as a form of political expression, something which we thought had reached its zenith with the last conservative party but which the current ruling labour party have doubled down on.
In particular, Banksy’s street art piece is a response to the actions over the preceding weekend of police officers arresting 890 citizens silently and peacefully expressing their support for a political cause outside the Houses of Parliament by writing to that effect on paper with marker pens.
Placement and Context
The location of Banksy’s stencil is particularly risque, being on the outside wall of the Royal Courts of Justice. MPs enact laws, police enforce laws, the courts interpret the law. This stunning placement is right up there alongside Banksy’s 2016 reaction to the French authorities tear gassing occupants of migrant camps. This was an image of Cosette from Les Miserables placed right opposite the French Embassy. The guards at the French Embassy carry guns.
Banksy’s timing was superb. He would have scouted the location, checked the available space and most importantly the security. There is a camera right over the spot on the wall pointing down at the street art, the most recent street images show the same camera in a different orientation, pointing down the street, away from the stencil spot.
The Royal Courts of Justice covered up their new Banksy covered up by 0830 the day it was discovered with builder’s black plastic floor covering and double skinned lightweight fencing panels, the killjoys. Images have surfaced this evening, a day later, suggesting what looks like a partial and rather poor paint removal has been undertaken. The 1882 built building is apparently listed and so it appears English Heritage had declined the addition of the new Banksy. Shocking.
Impact
Some sources are saying the Met have stated a case of criminal damage at the Royal Courts has been reported to them and an investigation is being launched. Banksy is probably quite safe. Many in the establishment are siding with the view that this latest enactment has over-reached itself with the resultant criminalisation of large numbers of Octogenarian middle England types, also known as “core voters”.
After the shoulder shrug of that obscure Marseille post-as-lighthouse earlier this year, London has benefited from a real return to form for Banksy.
This is an abbreviated version of a longer assessment available on Graffoto
Photos and writing: Dave Stuart
