A report in the Sun reveals the unfortunate plight of a British couple, Garry and Gokean Coutts, who found themselves in a challenging situation after renowned street artist Banksy painted a large seagull on the side of their Suffolk home in 2021. What should have been a dream come true turned into a living nightmare for the homeowners.
Ever since the mural appeared, the Couttses have been facing numerous issues. Vandals have targeted their property, and the couple has been forced to consider expensive options for preserving the artwork. The cost of protecting and maintaining the mural is estimated at nearly $50,000 per year while removing it could amount to a staggering quarter of a million dollars. Speaking to the Times, Mr. Coutts expressed his stress and stated that if given the chance, they would go back in time to avoid this situation.
The challenges for the Couttses have been relentless. They have dealt with hooligans attempting to deface the mural, thieves chipping off sections of the artwork to sell on social media, cracks appearing in the wall, and interference from county council members. The theft incident even required them to hire a security guard at their own expense to safeguard the mural during the night.
To resolve the ongoing issues, the Couttses have made the difficult decision to remove the 22-ton mural. The removal process involved reinforcing the artwork with layers of resin, fiberglass, and steel, with the assistance of a 40-foot crane. The aim is to sell the massive work and recoup some of the estimated $250,000 cost incurred throughout the entire ordeal. Mr. Coutts emphasized their desire to sell the mural and recover some of their losses, stating that they are just ordinary people caught in extraordinary situation.
This isn’t the first time a Banksy mural has faced a similar fate. In 2021, a Banksy artwork depicting a young girl using a bicycle tire as a hula-hoop was removed from a brick wall in Nottingham, England, and subsequently sold for a significant six-figure sum to the Brandler Galleries based in Brentwood, England.
The story of the Couttses serves as a stark reminder of the unintended consequences that can arise when Banksy’s elusive and coveted artworks appear unexpectedly on private property. It highlights the challenges faced by homeowners who become unwitting custodians of these valuable and controversial pieces of art.
