Banksy’s seaside ‘spraycation’: Elusive artist confirms he IS behind new graffiti in Norfolk and Suffolk – as he releases video showing him spraypainting murals on coastal tour
Banksy has confirmed he was behind a string of new street art pieces which appeared in Suffolk and Norfolk over the past week.
The elusive artist, believed to be from Bristol, can be seen working on eight new pieces in a video entitled A Great British Spraycation, which he uploaded to his Instagram account Friday.
The three-minute clip shows the anonymous artist driving around in a camper van while donning a hoodie as he works on the new pieces, inspired by the summer of so-called 'staycations', which has seen Brits opt to holiday at home owing to strict Covid restrictions on foreign travel.
In the video, shared with his 10.9 million Instagram followers, residents can be seen reacting to the pieces, seemingly unaware that they were created by the iconic artist.
Upon seeing one image of a child holding what appears to be a spade next to a sandcastle, a woman says: 'That looks like mindless vandalism, doesn't it
Banksy uploaded the video to his Instagram account on Friday, confirming he was behind eight new works (Pictured: Grabbing machine situated above a bench)
Among the works is a rat sitting on a deck chair enjoying what appears to be a martini underneath an umbrella
'Mindless vandalism': One woman's verdict of this Banksy piece, showing a child with a spade, spray-painted on a wall behind a sandcastle
The three-minute clip shows the elusive artist working in a hoodie, just metres away from beachgoers
The video is entitled The Great British Spraycation and shows the iconic artist working around Suffolk and Norfolk
One piece on a beach in Cromer depicts a feisty gang of hermit crabs
At the end of the video a woman comments on one of the pieces: 'It looks a lot better from far away than it does when you get this close.'
Among the new works are a rat sitting on a deckchair with a cocktail under an umbrella, a grabbing machine situated above a bench in Gorleston, and one of a seagull on the side of a building stealing 'chips' from a skip in Lowestoft.
One piece in Cromer shows a gang of feisty hermit crabs.
Another, in Nicholas Everitt Park, shows three children standing in a boat which appears to have been fashioned out of a piece of scrap metal.
It features one child looking ahead as though out to sea, another child behind looking over their shoulder, and a third child at the back of the boat appearing to be leaning over the side holding a bucket.
Writing above the artwork says: 'We're all in the same boat.'
The metal part of the artwork has since been removed, and pictures show a man in fluorescent overalls appearing to drag it way.
He also worked on a statue in King's Lynn, putting an ice cream in its hand while making a tongue appear from its mouth.
Banksy also wrote his name on the side of a miniature building in the Merrivale Model Village
Banksy wrote 'Go Big Or Go Home' on the side of a small building in the Merrivale Model Village
One image shows a seagull on the side of a building stealing 'chips' from a skip in Lowestoft
The video shows Banksy working in broad daylight, pictured here placing an 'ice cream' in the hand of a statue
The statue is also given a bright pink tongue, which can be seen stuck on the figure's lips
Banksy depicted a musician playing an instrument above a bus stop in Great Yarmouth, while two people dance beside him
This piece in Nicholas Everitt Park shows three children standing in a boat which appears to have been fashioned out of a piece of scrap metal
The artist confirmed another work spotted on a wall outside the former Lowestoft Electrical shop on London Road North, which appears to show a child holding a crowbar next to a sandcastle.
A slab next to the sandcastle seems to have been raised from the pavement and is sitting out of place next to where it appears it should be.
He also depicted a musician playing an instrument above a bus stop in Great Yarmouth, while two people dance beside him.
Banksy also wrote 'Go Big Or Go Home' on the side of a small building in the Merrivale Model Village.
Earlier this year, Banksy raised more than £16 million for health projects with the auction of a painting offering an 'image of hope'.
Game Changer appeared at Southampton Hospital during the first wave of the pandemic.
The anonymous graffiti artist auctioned the original canvas, with the reproduction of the work remaining in the hospital.
The painting fetched £16.7 million, which is a world auction record for the artist, according to Christie's.
Some locals suspect the new Spraycation series could have been Banksy's way of helping the areas secure their City of Culture bids.
It comes after the councils of the Great Yarmouth borough and East Suffolk submitted a joint proposal in July to become the 2025 UK City of Culture.
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