Blinded by the Flag – New Banksy Statue in Central London

A new work of art by Banksy appeared overnight (29 April) in London’s Waterloo Place. It depicts a man marching, his chest pumped in patriotic pride, holding his nation’s flag aloft. Unfortunately for him, the flag has blinded him, swathing itself around his head so that he has no idea in which direction he is marching. As luck wouldn’t have it, he is marching proudly towards an abyss (or in this case off the plinth). It’s a strikingly simple visual metaphor, but one with great premonitory depth. Image As ever with Banksy, the work of art arrived without notification or fanfare – although he has now confirmed on Instagram that he created it. It is situated in the Waterloo Place, in the St James are of the borough of Westminster. The location is well chosen for such an anti-imperialist piece as Waterloo Place is littered with statues commemorating Britain’s imperial past. You do not have to walk far to encounter statues of Florence Nightingale (and the Crimean War Memoria0 as well as…