Banksy’s ‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’ removed and taken to theme park

An artwork by Banksy, titled ‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’, has been relocated to a theme park. 

On the side of a house in Margate, Kent, it depicted a 1950s-style housewife with a swollen eye and a missing tooth pushing a man in an old freezer that had been abandoned in the street.

Revealed just before the international holiday on February 14, the mural is seen as a statement on violence against women.

The entire wall containing Banksy’s work has now been removed and taken away using a mechanical digger.

Margate’s amusement park Dreamland will house the piece to remain ‘accessible to all those who want to come and enjoy it for the foreseeable future’.

A statement from owner Red Eight Gallery and Dreamland Margate said: ‘Banksy’s artwork Valentine’s Day Mascara has today been removed from its original location by a skilled team of professionals and taken to an art conservator in Faversham.

‘There it will be prepared for its eventual installation at Dreamland Margate where it will be on display for the public to see.

‘Julian Usher from Red Eight Gallery and Eddie Kemsley from Dreamland are delighted that they have been able to help the artwork’s current owner achieve their dreams for it and look forward to revealing it in its new home at Dreamland.’

The date of the unveiling at the amusement park will be announced in due course.

Less than 24 hours after Banksy confirmed the graffiti was his, council contractors carted away the freezer.

Fans of the elusive street artist had flocked to see the new addition, but were left disappointed.

It was later returned before being removed for a second time by the Red Eight Gallery.

The owners said it was now in storage with permission from the homeowner, before a permanent home can be found for the entire work.

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