AN ART enthusiast has said that the new mural discover in Southampton over the weekend could be a real Bansky piece.
The artwork has been created on a wall in Mount Pleasant Road in Southampton, and it is believed to have appeared over Friday night.
It shows the figure of a child holding a balloon with the words “our future” sprayed across the top.
The artwork on Mount Pleasant Road is yet to be confirmed as a Banksy piece.
A similar piece of art appeared in November 2010 on the same wall, which was confirmed to be an original Banksy piece.
It showed the same child’s figure with the words “No Future”.
However, just days after it was created, it was vandalised.
Gallery owner and Banksy “expert” John Brandler said it is possible that the new mural is a real Banksy piece.
It is believed that Banksy may have returned to “fix” the artwork, and the symbol in the balloon could be a nod towards Greta Thunberg’s appearance in Bristol on Friday night.
John, the owner of Brandler Galleries in Brentwood, Essex, said: “It is very difficult to judge from distorted and angled photos to see if this is real.
“It is not unknown for Banksy to go back to old murals that have been damaged.
“So maybe he has gone back.
“I would say there is a 60 to 70 per cent chance [it is real], but we need to see what he put on his website.”
In January 2011, artwork of a similar style was discovered at New Century Bingo in Shirley Road.
The artwork discovered on Shirley Road was surrounded by doubt from an art industry insider who said that it was “unlikely” to be Banksy.
Southampton City Council Cabinet Member for Homes and Culture Satvir Kaur said: “Banksy is an international icon and is no stranger to Southampton.
"It would be great if he returned to add to one of his pieces - something he’s done before -, at a time when Southampton is growing its cultural offer.
"As we know Banksy is a keen political activist, and art can be used to translate the most powerful messages.
"With our climate emergency and this mural in an area where the children are amongst the most deprived in the country, it is a poignant place to have it and an important reminder for us all to act.”
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