Banksy mural moved to secure location after 'fanatics' attempt to damage artwork

8 February 2022, 00:02

A mural painted by street artist Banksy is set to be removed from Wales and taken to a secure location after attempts by "fanatics" to damage the artwork, its owner has said.

Season's Greetings, which depicts a message about the impact of pollution on communities, appeared on the outside of a steelworker's private garage in Taibach, Port Talbot, on December 19, 2018.

It was bought by art dealer John Brandler, who agreed to keep the piece in the south Wales town for three years, and the Welsh Government later paid to have it moved to an unoccupied shop in Ty'r Orsaf so it could be viewed by the public.

But the mural, which is currently hidden behind shutters, is set to be placed in storage over the border in England on Tuesday.

Mr Brandler confirmed the artwork will be moved into storage before being loaned to a cultural institution which will put it on display to the public, while its long-term future is secured.

Many have called it a "missed opportunity" to revitalise the town, including actor Michael Sheen who grew up in Port Talbot and this month criticised the extraction of art from Wales into England.

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Mr Brandler said: "Since Season's Greetings appeared three years ago, fanatics have tried to destroy this amazing piece of art.

"We're moving it to preserve it for future generations, where it can be seen and enjoyed, but not vandalised."

His hopes of the artwork returning to Wales are low, adding: "So the chances of it coming back to Wales, as I said before, is probably about five minutes after hell freezes over."

The mock Christmas scene, created using stencils and spray paint, includes a dumpster fire next to a child with a sledge who is trying to catch falling snow on their tongue.

The snow is actually black dust, a by-product of steel production, from the town's steelworks, something that fell heavily in the summer of 2018.

Neath Port Talbot Council has said its attempts to keep the work in the town have failed and claimed that were it to stay, they would have to pay Mr Brandler £100,000 a year to loan it from him.

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In November 2021, council leader Ted Latham issued a statement to "set the record straight" regarding the impending departure of the Banksy mural.

Cllr Latham said he was informed the work would be moved to an exhibition in Peterborough, adding: "Discussions were held on future arrangements and the potential for the work to remain in Port Talbot, but the council was informed that it would have to meet the costs of its removal and installation into a new venue, to continue to cover the insurance and to pay a fee in the region of £100,000 per year for the loan of the work.

"It has been estimated the cost of removal and relocation to another venue (even without insurance to cover the operation to move it) of Season's Greetings would be around £50,000."

The artwork will be removed in one piece after being encased in a specially designed protective shell made by design and build company the Egg Group.

The Banksy Preservation Society aims to raise funds through exclusive Banksy NFT Art drops to fund the preservation of Season's Greetings and other works and ensure it will be on display to the public in the future.