{"id":160207,"date":"2023-06-04T18:42:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-04T18:42:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culture.org\/?p=160207"},"modified":"2023-06-02T18:47:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T18:47:03","slug":"banksy-art-british-couple-forks-out-250000-to-discard-banksy-mural-amid-maintenance-nightmares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culture.org\/art-and-culture\/banksy-art-british-couple-forks-out-250000-to-discard-banksy-mural-amid-maintenance-nightmares\/","title":{"rendered":"Banksy Art: British Couple Forks Out $250,000 to Discard Banksy Mural Amid Maintenance Nightmares"},"content":{"rendered":"           <!--  <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n                jQuery(document).ready(function() {\r\n                    jQuery(\".key-accordion-item .key-menu\").on(\"click\", function() {\r\n                        if (jQuery(this).parent().hasClass(\"active\")) {\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                        } else {\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-content\").slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-accordion-item\").removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().addClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideDown();\r\n                        }\r\n                    });\r\n                })\r\n            <\/script> -->\r\n\r\n\r\n            <!-- start html -->\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"news-key-takeaway-wapper\">\r\n                                <span style=\"background-color:#4db2ee;\">Key Takeaways<\/span>\r\n                <ul class=\"news-key-nbox\" style=\"border-color:#4db2ee;background-color:rgba(77, 178, 238, 0.1);\">\r\n                                                        <li>Banksy's unexpected mural on the Coutts' building in Lowestoft, UK, sparked both admiration and troubles.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Maintenance and security concerns, coupled with potential legal implications, lead to immense stress for the couple.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>The mural became a target for vandals and opportunists attempting to steal parts for sale.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>The couple opted to remove the mural at a staggering cost of $250,000, intending to sell it to recoup their losses.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>Questions remain about the responsibilities of local authorities in protecting such public artworks.<\/li>\r\n                                                <\/ul>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            \n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll delve into the high-stakes predicament of a British couple, Garry and Gokean Coutts, who found themselves burdened with an unexpected Banksy mural and the hefty price tag for its upkeep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From an anticipated art treasure, it turned into a source of distress, ultimately forcing them to shell out a whopping $250,000 for its removal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Unexpected Gift: Banksy\u2019s Mural Appearance<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ordinary day turned extraordinary for British couple Garry and Gokean Coutts in August 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple&#8217;s building in Lowestoft, U.K., was chosen as the canvas for an original artwork by the elusive street artist, Banksy. This addition was a part of the artist&#8217;s acclaimed &#8220;Great British Spraycation&#8221; series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banksy, famed for his anonymity and striking art, had erected the scaffolding covertly. The Coutts assumed this was for municipal repairs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To their surprise, they found an avian-themed masterpiece adorning their building, a phenomenon that would soon bring more than just aesthetic value.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>From Marvel to Migraine: The Unforeseen Consequences<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially, the Banksy mural seemed like a boon. It added to the property\u2019s value, catching the eye of the Lowestoft Town Council, which saw the potential for a new tourist attraction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The council considered placing a preservation order on the work. However, it fell upon the homeowners to maintain the piece at an annual cost of \u00a340,000, equivalent to $49,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crowds of art enthusiasts started flocking to the mural.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led to the need for a night watchman, hired by Mr. Coutts, after an attempt was made to steal and sell part of the artwork on Facebook.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further incidents included attempted theft of the scaffolding and other individuals aiming to deface the mural with white paint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initial excitement turned into a stress-inducing reality for the Coutts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dealing with the vandalism, maintaining the artwork, and managing the increasing foot traffic proved to be more than they had bargained for. Mr. Coutts candidly shared, &#8220;At first, it was obviously incredible but as things have gone on it has become extremely stressful. I\u2019m not sure Banksy realizes the unintended consequences on homeowners.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A couple have removed a multimillion-pound Banksy artwork adorning the side of their home after it became a target for vandals, thieves and council bureaucrats telling them they need to spend tens of thousands of pounds to maintain it<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3Ap6EFQYUV\" data-lasso-id=\"23411\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/t.co\/3Ap6EFQYUV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thetimes\/status\/1661258574725611521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" data-lasso-id=\"23412\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">May 24, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><b>A Pricey Dilemma: The Decision to Remove the Mural<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mounting pressure led the couple to make a difficult decision in April. They chose to remove the mural.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was no small task, involving a 40-foot crane and a considerable expense of \u00a3200,000, or around $246,300, to safely extract the 50,000-pound wall bearing the artwork.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The move sparked controversy, with onlookers expressing their disappointment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process was labor-intensive and delicate. They needed to reinforce the mural with 12 layers of resin, fiberglass, and five tons of steel before using the crane to remove it.<\/span><\/p>\n                        <!-- <div class=\"container-c\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"row justify-content-between\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"col-post-800\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- start html -->\r\n                        <div class=\"blockquote-wapper\">\r\n                            <div>\r\n                                <span class=\"text_quot\">\r\n                                    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple&#8217;s building in Lowestoft, U.K., was chosen as the canvas for an original artwork by the elusive street artist, Banksy. This addition was a part of the artist&#8217;s acclaimed &#8220;Great British Spraycation&#8221; series.<\/span><\/p>\n                                <\/span>\r\n\r\n                                <div class=\"quot_icon\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quot_tick\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot_tri.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                        <!-- end html -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                                    \n<h2><b>Post Removal Plans: The Coutts\u2019 Hope to Recoup Losses<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the considerable financial burden, the Coutts hope to recover some of their losses by selling the mural.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A similar Banksy piece was previously sold for six figures, suggesting that there is a lucrative market for these works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple assured they would replace the original with a replica, keeping the spirit of the art alive while freeing themselves from the ongoing maintenance demands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the controversy surrounding the removal has sparked a conversation around the responsibilities of homeowners and local authorities towards public art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As David Sobon, who has experience staging mural festivals, pointed out, &#8220;most cities can&#8217;t make decisions quickly\u2014there&#8217;s too much red tape.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is within the couple&#8217;s legal rights to remove the artwork from their property. Yet, the council notes, &#8220;Banksy\u2019s works, by their nature, may not always be permanent features.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Coutts\u2019 predicament underscores the need for clearer guidelines and support systems for homeowners who find themselves guardians of public art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It serves as a reminder that such artistic surprises, while initially thrilling, can come with significant challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As they now plan to sell the mural to recoup their losses, the couple&#8217;s experience highlights the unintended consequences and complex issues surrounding public artworks and their preservation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Art can be a gift or a curse, as evidenced by the Coutts&#8217; ordeal with their unexpected Banksy mural.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their predicament underscores a broader question about the responsibilities and roles of homeowners, communities, and local authorities in preserving and maintaining <a href=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/art-and-culture\/man-trapped-in-a-piece-of-public-art-rescued-and-arrested\/\" data-lasso-id=\"23948\">public artworks<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even as they hope to sell the mural to recoup their substantial losses, the couple&#8217;s experience serves as a cautionary tale for others about the potential unintended consequences of owning a piece of guerilla art.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":160266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[410],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-and-culture"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160207"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160207\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}