London graffiti spoofing Vermeer's art and terrorists — a Banksy sighting is always a highlight

Written / Compiled and reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network editorial department

Recently, there were false reports that British graffiti master Banksy had been arrested in London, but this news did not become an obstacle to the artist’s creativity. He recently returned to his hometown of Bristol and unveiled his latest street work, putting a humorous twist on Vermeer’s famous painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by replacing the pearl earring with a burglar alarm bell. This girl wearing an alarm-bell earring makes passersby can’t help but smile knowingly.

Is street graffiti considered a form of art? That may depend on one’s perspective. The renowned anonymous British street artist Banksy is a legendary figure in the world of street graffiti art. No one knows his true identity or what he looks like, though it is roughly speculated that he was born in 1974. It is said that at age 18, while hiding from police under a garbage truck, he came up with the idea of using stencils for graffiti to reduce the time it takes.

His works are often filled with satire, anti-war messages, and other thought-provoking themes. No signature is needed — you can tell it’s BANKSY’s style at a glance. In addition to being a street artist, he is also a highly talented graffiti artist, as well as an active participant in social movements, a film director, and a painter. Banksy’s works are often infused with satire, along with subversive, cynical black humor or incisive phrases that bring smiles.