Street artist Banksy has laid claim to his latest work of public art, an olde tyme prison escape stenciled on the wall of the defunct HM Reading Prison in Reading, Berkshire, England. The prison, also known as Reading Gaol, was built in 1844 and operated until early 2014. Oscar Wilde was imprisioned for two year after a conviction for “gross indecency” in this very jail.
The street artist is seen spray-painting the image of an inmate escaping from Reading Prison in a video posted on Instagram. The Banksy mural features a figure in prison stripes and a cap. He appears to be climbing down the exterior brick wall on a rope ladder instead of a ream of paper, anchored by a typewriter. The image is likely an allusion to Wilde as Reading’s famous inmate and his subsequent poetic work that both documents Woodridge’s hanging while also identifying with him as a fellow prisoner.
The video, which is captioned “Create Escape,” playfully mimics TV artist Bob Ross’ cult show, “The Joy of Painting.” Shots of Banksy working in the dark of night are overdubbed with clips of Ross giving painting tips, making it appear as if he is commenting on the work.
The video did not confirm whether or not the artwork depicts Wilde, who was held at the institution, then known as Reading Gaol, for two years from 1895 after being imprisoned under a historical law against “gross indecency” used to prosecute gay men.
The Ministry of Justice, the owner of the listed building, is to decide this month whether to turn it into an arts venue as it closed as a prison in 2013. The campaign to turn the former prison into an arts venue has the backing of actors including Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Kenneth Branagh.