In the same location where a Banksy once resided, a new piece of art has been painted, making fun of the gallery owner who bought and removed it.
Banksy's Season's Greetings, which debuted in Port Talbot in 2018, is referred to in the street art.
Locals would likely relate, according to Bristol-based street artist John Doh.
However, John Brandler, the owner of the gallery, claimed that the council was to blame for Season's Greetings' removal and referred to the new piece as a "non-comment.".
The new artwork features a family staring at a blank wall and is annotated, "Look Dad, it's a Banksy," then, "No, it's a John Brandler son.". ".
2018 saw the debut of the original Banksy on the garage wall of former steelworker Ian Lewis in Port Talbot. On one side, it shows a young child enjoying snow, but the reverse shows ash being emitted from a fire. .
It was subsequently purchased by Mr. Brandler and relocated to a structure in the town center, where it remained until January 14, 2022.
John Doh reported that Steve Jenks, a different street artist, had gotten in touch with him and asked if he wanted to paint something in Port Talbot.
John Doh claimed that Mr. Jenks had already painted on Mr. Lewis' garage before Season's Greetings was taken down and had asked the artist to later add to it.
According to John Doh, "street art is removed from the streets, it loses all its context and integrity.".
"The location of [the Banksy] was excellent, with the factories serving as a backdrop behind the artwork, and that can't be recreated when it is cut out and simply thrown in a gallery or a museum. ".
Although the new work was "funny," according to Mr. Brandler, it lacked "visual punch.".
He commented, "This is boring. The point is made very visibly in good street art. There are very few worded pieces in Banksy's artwork. The visual is the crucial component. ".
The gallery owner, who is from Brentwood in Essex, added that it targeted the wrong person and blamed the council for having it taken down.
Before Mr. Brandler bought the Banksy, there were worries about its safety. However, in just one month after it was painted in 2018, it attracted about 20,000 visitors.
He claimed that his offer to purchase the painting from Mr. Lewis was the lowest of five at the time, but he had actually planned to keep it in the community in the hopes of opening a global street art museum.
But according to Mr. Brandler, the neighborhood council abandoned the plan.
The gallery owner continued by saying that he had to "nag" the council to turn on the light so that people could see the Banksy while it was on display in the community, in the building Ty'r Orsaf.
The not-for-profit housing organization Pobl was thanked at the time for agreeing to house the artwork in Ty'r Orsaf, giving so many people the opportunity to see it.
"Discussions regarding the possibility of the work staying in Port Talbot took place, but the council was informed it would have to pay for the work's removal and installation into a new location, maintain the insurance, and pay a fee in the neighborhood of £100,000 per year for the loan of the work.
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