The Banksy mural unveiled in Margate yesterday, before being dismantled by the local council just hours later, has now been partly put back together.
Titled Valentine’s Day Mascara, the painting depicts a stereotypical 1950s housewife with a black eye and a missing tooth shutting a man into a freezer positioned in front of the wall. Originally, rubbish was scattered in front with a broken garden chair and an empty beer bottle on display.
Everything other than the graffiti was removed yesterday afternoon, however the freezer has now returned.
Went to see the new Banksy that appeared in Margate this morning just in time to see Thanet District Council removing the fridge 😭 pic.twitter.com/4BogwE6zNK
— Harry Baker (@harrybakerpoet) February 14, 2023
On Wednesday afternoon, a Thanet District Council spokesman said the freezer was made safe and returned to its original position.
“The council has a duty to ensure the ongoing safety of the public; it was necessary to carry out works to the freezer for health and safety reasons.
The Banksy mural while the freezer was taken away
“Banksy raises the important issue of domestic abuse in this artwork. We are in touch with the owner of the property to understand their intentions around the preservation of the piece and to secure the best possible outcome for the local community and victims of domestic abuse.”
The work was revealed on Valentine’s day, highlighting violence against women.
