Banksy’s Tarnished Valentine’s Mural Gets ‘Repaired’ By Creative Photoshoppers

Banksy’s Valentine’s Day work was scorned, jilted, and left in the lurch almost as soon as it was put up on a building in Thanet, England.

Valentine’s Day Mascara conveys the less-glamorous, unseen side of some picket-fence romances, depicting a 50s-style housewife with “makeup” in the form of a black eye, a bruised cheek, and a missing tooth. She is pictured wearing rubber gloves—though, instead of washing the dishes or doing other household chores, the woman is shoving her presumably abusive spouse into a real-life chest freezer.

However, not long after the mural captured media attention, the freezer was removed, leaving an empty space between the woman and her husband’s disembodied legs.

The Thanet district council explained that the freezer was being taken off the site for “public safety,” since the object was occupying public land. Authorities said they would investigate the freezer’s contents to ensure it posed no danger to residents.

Internet vigilantes have since rescued the artwork with a game of pseudo-connect-the-dots, using Photoshop and other imaging tools to complete the picture in their own imaginative ways.

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Luckily, there won’t be a need for drastic fixes to the actual mural, as the Thanet district council has restored the work to its original form after determining the freezer to be safe. 

“The council has a duty to ensure the ongoing safety of the public,” the committee justifies, adding that it was “necessary” for authorities to inspect the prop for health and safety reasons.

“Banksy raises the important issue of domestic abuse in this artwork,” the Thanet district council concurs. It says it is in talks with the property’s owner to see how they might want to preserve the mural and “secure the best possible outcome for the local community and victims of domestic abuse,” it adds.

Check out some witty interpretations of the unfinished artwork below.

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In spite of the lighthearted attempts, it’s worth reiterating that domestic abuse is not a joke. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence, please do not hesitate to reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at its toll-free number, 800-799-7232, or text “START” to 88788. If you live abroad, please check this list of helplines from around the world.

[via The Poke and r/photoshopbattles, images via various sources]