Graffiti artist Banksy returns to NYC with mural protesting imprisoned Turkish artist
NEW YORK -- British graffiti artist Banksy has created a New York mural protesting the imprisonment of a Turkish artist and journalist. New York City spectators from near and far stood in awe Saturday, five years after the artist's first foray into the New York street art scene, CBS New York reports.
Zehra Dogan, an ethnic Kurd, was jailed after painting the Turkish flag flying over the rubble of a destroyed town.
According to human rights advocacy group PEN International, Dogan was convicted in March 2017 of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization." It says Dogan argued at her trial that painting a real-life event based upon a photo taken and disseminated by the Turkish military was part of her work as a journalist.
Banksy's 70-foot-long mural consists of black tally marks representing Dogan's days in a Turkish prison. Dogan is shown jailed behind one set of marks, grasping one that's transformed into a large pencil. A lower corner of the mural bears the slogan "Free Zehra Dogan."
"One year ago Zehra Dogan was jailed for painting this watercolour of a photograph she saw in the newspaper. Protest against this injustice…" Banky wrote on Instagram. "Sentenced to nearly three years in jail for painting a single picture. #FREEzehradogan."
Sentenced to nearly three years in jail for painting a single picture. #FREEzehradogan
A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) on
"I think it's really great. We love street art and we love the political aspect of this kind of work, and it's awesome," one woman told CBS New York.
"It's so simple but so powerful," added woman another. "I like it very much."
A more discrete piece also appeared at West 14th Street and Sixth Avenue, showing a rat sketched into a clock.
"It's a rat race," Ian Spain said. "It's how capitalism has taken over New York City and how they're destroying -- I think this building's getting torn down for condos -- so they're destroying old, historic buildings for pure profit."
"It's always the simplicity of his work, it's always the honesty of his work that catches you, you know?" Mark Barrett said.
"I love it. I wish he'd come back," another man added.
The Dogan mural was created in collaboration with "Borf," an artist who has served jail time for his graffiti, according to Banksy's publicist.
The artist spent 30 days in New York in 2013, producing one piece of art per day over the course of the month.