Latest Stories- Banksy Margate artwork dismantled – hours after its reveal | Ents & Arts News

Street artist Banksy has claimed a new artwork which appears to highlight the issue of domestic violence - but hours later, part of it was dismantled.The painting, which has

appeared on the side of a building in the seaside town of Margate, Kent, shows a 1950s housewife, wearing a classic blue pinny apron and yellow washing-up gloves. She has a swollen

eye and a missing tooth and appears to have shoved her male partner into a chest freezer.Artist Pete Brown was painting the scene when the genuine freezer, which formed an integral

part of the mural, was removed on Tuesday morning.He said: "A council truck turned up and they took away the freezer," adding that the vehicle had the hazard warning lights and a

metal cage typical of those used to clear fly-tipping. Mr Brown, who was visiting Margate, said he had come to the resort to paint the sea, but after coming across the mural, had

spent his time painting a scene of a wall instead.The artwork is titled 'Valentine's day mascara' on Banksy's website. Image: Pic: @danbamhiggins/PA It also features rubbish on the

ground in front of the painting, including a broken white garden chair, a blue crate and an empty beer bottle.Speculation about the post has suggested the Bristol-born artist is

referencing violence against women on Valentine's Day. A local media report said the freezer was removed on health and safety grounds.Read more on Sky News:The Oscars luncheon in

picturesS Club 7 reunite for 25th anniversary tourRadio presenter apologises for 'insensitive' jokeThanet District Council did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.Banksy's work can sell for millions of pounds on the art market.In December, the anonymous graffiti artist announced he had created 50 screen-prints which would be sold to

raise funds for a charity supporting the people of Ukraine. Banksy previously confirmed he had spent time in Ukraine after posting a video of an artist spray-painting designs in

the war-torn country and speaking to locals.One of his biggest projects was Dismaland, a dystopian theme park in Weston-super-Mare back in 2015.