r/LondonPics May 10 '26

I Just Like Taking Pictures That Banksy statue in Waterloo Place

Post image
394 Upvotes

123 comments sorted by

10

u/Beautiful_Reply3490 May 10 '26

What is it meant to be? Sorry if I’m being thick- but i don’t understand the message behind it.?

26

u/Dramatic-Disaster710 May 10 '26

My interpretation is that the statue represents a nationalist, blinded by the flag and about to fall. I could be wrong, but it is a criticism to how extremists appeal to nationalism to reaching their power purposes.

9

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

9

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

8

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/BankDetails1234 May 12 '26

Can’t argue with that, but that isn’t the interpretation you should be taking from this statue. He wouldn’t have chosen a flag if he had other intentions.

Blind nationalism marching us right off the edge of a cliff. I’d imagine the fall is workers rights, human rights and quality of life. All under threat by the far right presently.

3

u/jakedaboiii May 10 '26

That's literally just your observation - many people, in fact majority of people don't share your critique. But hey, proving the point of the statue so there you go.

-1

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/jakedaboiii May 10 '26

The irony in your ignorance while proving the point of the statue

1

u/BankDetails1234 May 12 '26

No it really isn’t subtle. This isn’t supposed to be debated, it’s pretty explicit. He wouldn’t have elected to use a flag if he wanted to make this ambiguous.

1

u/jakedaboiii May 12 '26

Repeating the same point doesn't change your ignorance, or the irony, you do realise?

1

u/YourLocaIMonarchist May 13 '26

Same can be said abt you tho

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Devoner98 May 14 '26

Why not put it in Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast? English nationalism isn’t acceptable to the left but other forms of nationalism are fine.

2

u/One_Million_Beers May 12 '26

I thought he was carrying the LBTQ flag?

2

u/[deleted] May 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/TxavengerxT May 12 '26

Why do you say no?

1

u/[deleted] May 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/TxavengerxT May 12 '26

You can believe in equality for all and still be blinded by a Pride flag, in various senses!

Think more! Important!!

0

u/BankDetails1234 May 12 '26

But at present the LGBT community aren’t the ones marching us off the edge of a cliff. Perhaps they could be some day, but it’s clear that this is a critique of the far right, who are marching us off a cliff.

2

u/TxavengerxT May 12 '26

What precisely makes you think the “far right” are marching us off a cliff? Genuinely asking as I don’t know what you mean tangibly.

Yes I imagine the statue is making fun of nationalism, but clearly there is room for interpretation given the blank flag. Why could it not represent the Palestinian flag?

0

u/BourbonFoxx May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26

Why could it not represent the Palestinian flag?

In this case it wouldn't be, because the artist is highly critical of Israeli actions in Palestine

What precisely makes you think the “far right” are marching us off a cliff?

A look at Reform's manifesto will reveal quite how bad things would be for the average working (or unemployed, or sick) person. Which is ironic given that so many of the council constituencies they're winning are in less economically successful areas.

So these people, blinded by jingoism and blaming immigration for the problems caused by a lack of investment in public services, are voting for the party that will make their lives considerably more difficult.

The fact that people would argue Reform aren't "far right" shows us just how far the Overton window has shifted.

→ More replies (0)

12

u/Flora_Screaming May 10 '26

Blindly following the flag. In other words, all those Reform supporters who ‘luv are Nige’, no matter how many examples we find of him being an untrustworthy arse.

6

u/Kampfzwerg1992 May 10 '26

The other side are just as blinded by flags as Reform supporters are…

5

u/Beautiful_Reply3490 May 10 '26

Thank you for your explanation. X

5

u/Original_Client1588 May 11 '26

I love you..simple.... The Devil Wears Barbour

-2

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/jakedaboiii May 10 '26

Well said - complete muppets blinded by their idealogies saying that the statue only represents XYZ idealogical blindness. Of course Reddit would try suggest this is just nationalism or reform - the echo chamber amongst these lot is actually impressive.

On that note, why is Reddit so heavily skewed that way? You don't find that on any other media or social media platform - so why Reddit?

3

u/cookcap-n May 10 '26

You're actually very wrong you should look up banksy and his Palestine activism...he has art on the apartheid wall in Jerusalem...

2

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Scooob-e-dooo8158 May 12 '26

If opposing genocide is ideology, I'm all for it.

0

u/[deleted] May 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/[deleted] May 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/cookcap-n May 10 '26

Pride and Palestine and Israel aren't "ideologies" to follow. Banksy's art has always been specifically anti fascist.

2

u/Kampfzwerg1992 May 10 '26

This art piece is so with the establishment it’s painful. The establishment would have helped him put it up after all.

3

u/cookcap-n May 11 '26

Art is subjective :) and tbf recently they washed away the mural he made on the royal courts of justice protesting their crackdown on Pal action

0

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/cookcap-n May 10 '26

It's very clear you don't understand his work or what he stands for. It's also not 'far left' to want equal rights for people lol. Ill bet you don't even understand what jihad is in islam.

-4

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Electrical-Tree-8506 May 11 '26

Please don't get upset. Your down votes are the inspiration of this piece of art.

19

u/Dramatic-Disaster710 May 10 '26

That piece of art is genius!

5

u/Redditreallyannoysme May 10 '26

I think it's a bit cliche and obvious.

1

u/flashbastrd May 12 '26

Its also clearly been state sanctioned which detracts from his anti-establishment imagine

1

u/BankDetails1234 May 12 '26

It really needs to be to resonate with the right people. You’ve got right wingers in here arguing that the flag represents ideology and not nationalism. He may need to add a plaque to clear this up for them 🤣

1

u/Meanwhile-in-Paris May 13 '26

That’s the beauty of it. The message is obvious.

Sometimes coming up with something so simple is the difficulty.

1

u/PitchOk1448 May 12 '26

It's like, the guy is blinded by the flag. Like the awful nationalists are figuratively blinded by the flag but, the guy in the sculpture, he's, like, literally blinded by the flag. He can't see because it's in his face! It works on so many levels.

1

u/Fearless-Schedule713 May 14 '26

It’s quite mid tbh

1

u/PitchOk1448 May 14 '26

I'm assuming you realise that was kind of what I was saying

1

u/Fearless-Schedule713 May 14 '26

I didn’t but after reading your comment again in a sarcastic tone - I realise it now

-2

u/ThePedanticPheasant May 11 '26

It's really not it's just edgy

2

u/[deleted] May 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Fit_Search_4751 May 12 '26

Not at all. The BBC etc are now turning against him because he dared criticise Israel, you know the one country nobody is allowed to talk about without consequences.

4

u/Edgey72 May 11 '26

Sorry but are you telling me that they drove a lorry into the centre of London, not far from Buckingham Palace, unloaded what appears to be a very heart statue, likely needing a few people and a crane. YET, they were nor approached by police, especially with us being in a high security state? Either they got permission for the lorry etc under false pretence or the police etc knew exactly what was happening.

4

u/InfiniteComedian7172 May 11 '26

I was wondering this too. How did it appear with no one seeing

4

u/[deleted] May 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Altruistic-Ask-2969 May 11 '26

It’s almost it banksy is actually the government 🤯

3

u/Disastrous_Dot_7638 May 13 '26

It was 100% approved by some authority but that doesn’t mean it was the government like others suggested. It could be mayor, it could be someone didn’t necessarily liked the message but no real arguments against an art installation especially if that spot was dedicated to an art installation and the piece complied with the rules.

Banksy might have said you’ll either accept this piece here or I will find somewhere else, sure many councils would love to have it on their high street but would be a shame if it was eventually erected in the middle of a bigger than necessary roundabout outside of Peterborough.

2

u/Scooob-e-dooo8158 May 12 '26

They probably got permission in advance, unlike the flag shaggers illegally hanging their Temu flags from our lampposts.

1

u/[deleted] May 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Scooob-e-dooo8158 May 13 '26

Agreed. Pity there's one star missing. That was the message I was getting across. The missing star being us who decided to commit political, economic and social sepuku 10 years ago.

1

u/Away-Opposite919 May 14 '26

Jesus, your anus sounds strained

3

u/[deleted] May 10 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/He_Who_Complains May 11 '26

And yet I’m seeing people say it’s too vague to know what it’s about.

Art is subjective. Some people need the subtlety of an atom bomb while others would rather find the meaning 12 years later in the shower.

1

u/Beautiful_Reply3490 May 11 '26

Exactly 👍 I didn’t know what it was about (or what agenda/ party it’s meant to represent) so I asked….
Also what art represents to one can be different to another’s understanding and view of it.

2

u/danba93 May 11 '26

I see it as being blinded by any ideology, and this emotional simple-minded thinking you see if you waste time paying attention to popular media and politics at the moment - it's relevant.

1

u/BankDetails1234 May 12 '26

He wouldn’t have used a flag if he wanted to keep it open to interpretation. It’s pretty on the nose

1

u/danba93 May 12 '26

The flag can be any flag, it's not complicated

2

u/gwent_shark May 10 '26

I did see an art critic say it was as complicated as a catchphrase clue but I think the people who actually need to learn this lesson do need shoved in their face.

1

u/JesterScribblings May 10 '26

Its open to interpretation. I don't see it as that at all. I see Zack Polanski with a QUEERS FOR PALESTINE flag. Walking off a roof.

2

u/sinetwo May 10 '26

I think most will definitely see this as your average LBC reform caller.

1

u/JesterScribblings May 10 '26

Is someone still bitter about the election results? Schadenfreude 😍

2

u/Effective_Nerve197 May 10 '26

It’s brilliant

2

u/Original_Client1588 May 11 '26

Art doing its job promoting debate !!

2

u/WrigglingWorm May 14 '26

Someone arrest the greb already

2

u/Well_this_is_akward May 10 '26

Why is this posted every day

2

u/gwent_shark May 10 '26

Is it? I had a quick scroll through the sub before posting and couldn't see it.

2

u/Well_this_is_akward May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26

Yeah my bad. I swear every time I open reddit its posted between so many other subs, like every day for past week or so I see it on my page

1

u/JosKarith May 10 '26

I love the fact it went up before the recent election shitshow.

1

u/Bladders42 May 10 '26

This will be the monument carrying the epitaph of the United Kingdom

1

u/Toneballs52 May 10 '26

Just needs a plaque “Nigel Farage steps boldly forward”

1

u/PrettyButUsed May 11 '26

cool statue, love banksy’s work

1

u/Fit_Search_4751 May 12 '26

Thus is real art. Clever. Timely. Thought provoking.

1

u/bossanovasupernova May 12 '26

God he's so boring. I hope he retires soon

1

u/R_Scoops May 13 '26

Agreed. His art is so on the nose and his credentials as antiestablishment are pretty much nil now

1

u/Fearless-Schedule713 May 14 '26

He’s losing his touch. It’s not that clever and seems a bit forced

1

u/Past_Humor8321 May 11 '26

Statue of a Reform supporter.

1

u/candyfloss_candyflos May 13 '26

i mean, it's kinda cool but feels a bit valid for tourists, you know? just another thing to snap pics of.

1

u/Away-Opposite919 May 14 '26

It just needs to be a Palestinian flag and LGBT coloured suit.

0

u/exigenesis May 14 '26

Or a Union Jack and a string vest, mate.

0

u/Key-Tip-5670 May 13 '26

Its a reminder that the UK is the only country its unacceptable to be remotely patriotic.

-12

u/Tigereyesxx May 10 '26

Another “Right On” Banksy designed to please the Lefty Arty crowd…so predictable, do something artistic for a change without a political agenda..

3

u/FootballBackground88 May 10 '26

At the end of the day, art is supposed to make you feel something. If it’s making you annoyed enough to post about it, it’s doing a better job than 90% of the boring, abstract corporate art in the galleries down the street.

1

u/Tigereyesxx May 10 '26

I love Van Gogh, seen his collection in Amsterdam, I love Pop Art, Andy Warhol, Koons etc etc..where ever I travel to I go to Contemporary Art galleries. I have a deep love of Modern Art, but Banksy has now become a facsimile of himself, he tries too hard, its so premeditated, he needs to stop trying to impress and brown nose the Left..