A chest freezer that formed part of British street artist Banksy’s controversial latest installation — a commentary on domestic violence — has been removed by officials over safety fears.
The freezer sat in front of the “Valentine’s Day Mascara” piece that the anonymous artist painted on a brick wall in Margate, southeast England.
The artwork depicts a 1950s housewife, with a missing tooth and a swollen eye, appearing to shut a man’s body inside the freezer.
“A fridge freezer which is believed to have been part of the installation has been removed by council operatives on the grounds of safety as it was on public land,” Thanet District Council wrote on its website Tuesday, soon after Banksy confirmed on Instagram that he was behind the mural.
“The fridge freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public,” the authority added. “We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district.”
Here’s how the installation looked with the freezer:
And once it was removed:
The artwork has been divisive online. Some commenters have praised Banksy for shining a light on domestic abuse, while others have accused him of “cashing in” on the issue.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.