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Girl and Balloon Mural
2002

Mural

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Girl and Balloon ’first appeared as a mural on Waterloo Bridge in South Bank, London. The piece depicts a young girl reaching out to a red heart-shaped balloon with the words ‘There is always hope’ alongside it. This striking image has been used in various social campaigns over the years, including ones focused on the West Bank barrier in 2005, the Syrian refugee crisis in 2014, and the 2017 UK election.


In 2018, a framed copy of the artwork was auctioned and spontaneously shredded by a hidden mechanical device, which Banksy had installed. The altered piece was renamed ‘Love is in the Bin,’ and Sotheby's noted that it was ‘the first work in history ever created during a live auction.’ Despite its transformation, the artwork remains a powerful commentary on hope and the value of art.


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