‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’ by Banksy is being moved to be displayed elsewhere (Picture: SWNS)
The latest Banksy mural is being moved to a new home just weeks after it was put there.
The painting, called ‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’, will be taken down from a wall in Margate, Kent, to be put on display at nearby amusement park Dreamland.
The artwork shows a woman in 1950s-style dress with a black eye pushing a man, thought to be her partner, into a real fridge-freezer.
It further features a broken white chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle.
Appearing on February 14, it is believed to be a statement about women and the ongoing struggle against domestic violence.
Today staff from Red Eight Gallery are starting working to remove the piece, which will see the house propped up while the art is delicately cut out.
Chief executive of the London-based gallery, Julian Usher, said: ‘We hope the piece will be removed this time next week.
Today staff from Red Eight Gallery, based in London, are starting working to remove the piece (Picture: SWNS)
The artwork shows a woman in 1950s-style dress with a black eye pushing a man, thought to be her partner, into a real fridge-freezer (Picture: SWNS)
‘Today we set up hoardings and started work outside, but we began work inside last week.
‘It will be in Dreamland for at least 12 months, but we are trying to keep it in there for three years.
‘There has been a lot of interest in the work from many different parties.’
He added the job will be intricate, but simple for the experts who know what they are doing.
After removal, the graffiti will be placed between two steel sheets and taken to a conservationist in nearby Faversham, which will prepare it for display and put it on a stand.
The artwork was embroiled in controversy shortly after it was unveiled, when Thanet District Council carted away the freezer (Picture: SWNS)
But many people complained and it was later returned to its original position (Picture: SWNS)
The artwork is believed to be worth several million pounds.
It was embroiled in controversy shortly after it was unveiled, when Thanet District Council carted away the freezer less than 24 hours later.
But many people complained it was a ‘vital’ part of Banksy’s piece and it was later returned to its original position.
The council wrote in a statement at the time it was removed: ‘We are aware that the graffiti artist known as Banksy has confirmed that the mural that has appeared recently in Margate is his.
‘The graffiti is situated on a wall of a privately owned property. A fridge freezer which is believed to have been part of the installation has been removed by council operatives on the grounds of safety as it was on public land.
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‘The freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public. We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district.’
It is hoped the work will appear in Dreamland between April 7 and April 10, alongside the real fridge-freezer.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Dreamland for comment.
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‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’ is being moved to be displayed elsewhere.
