The piece is located on the steepest street in England.
Like many of us, Banksy has mainly been staying at home during 2020 but it appears he may have struck again after a new piece of street art appeared overnight in Bristol, South West England. The graffiti image of a woman sneezing was found on the side of a semi-detached house on Vale Street in Totterdown, sparking instant speculation and excitement whether it was the artist and the meaning behind it.
According to the Bristol Post, a small crowd had already gathered around the piece by 11 am this morning and were taking photos of themselves being blown back by the woman’s sneeze. Banksy murals tend to poke fun at current affairs, so suggestions were made that the sneeze referred to Covid-19. Others have speculated whether this piece of art could be a nod towards the strong wind on Vale Street.
The road in Totterdown is known for being the steepest street in England and is home to an annual egg-rolling competition. According to experts, the famous climb has a 22° gradient – five degrees more than England’s second steepest street, in Great Malvern, Worcestershire. Vale Street is so steep that during the winter when it is icy, some cars have to be tied to lampposts to prevent them from sliding down the hill!
The Banksy-style mural on Vale Street follows a string of pieces around the city, confirmed by the Bristol-born artist. Many of his early works, like the Cat and Dog, can be found in Stokes Croft, Easton – but they have cropped up elsewhere since then. On Valentine’s Day this year, the artist created a piece on a wall in Barton Hill, which was later vandalised and has now been covered up.
There are several other murals by the artist around his hometown: such as the Grim Reaper, which originally appeared on a canal boat and is now on display in the M Shed down by the docks. In central Bristol, The Girl With The Pierced Eardrum is one of Banksy’s biggest works from 2014 and can still be seen in its original location.
This afternoon, a protective plastic covering was placed over the artwork causing suspicions that this artwork could belong to the well-known, Bristolian artist. Stay tuned for any updates on the mysterious mural…
[Featured Image: @thiscitymum]