A well-loved Banksy has been removed from the side of a shop in Tottenham by the same group that last year removed Banksy’s ‘Slave Labour’ and sold it for an estimated £750,000.
The Sincura Group has this time removed Banksy’s ‘No ball games’, which was created in September 2009, and which you can see above.
The concierge and art dealership group has released a statement saying they plan to sell the work in 2014, with all proceeds going to Step by Step, a charity for disabled young people in Haringay.
The charity could not be reached for comment, and it is unclear whether it is aware of the intentions of the Sincura Group.
Tottenham and Haringay locals are upset about the removal of the work. Ian Pereira, from Tottenham, told the Standard: “A lot of people around here knew how important it was, and they were proud of it. People came into Tottenham to see it and spend a few quid in the local shops.
“Haringey had two Banksys and now it has none. When people realise what has happened they will be gutted – I am.”
But the manager of the shop whose wall the Banksy was on seems not to mind. Alkin Ali said to the Standard: “[My landlord] said they were taking the painting, and asked if I minded that there would be some work done at the side of my shop. I said that was okay. They began work on Sunday.”
The Sincura Group said in a statement: “A number of attempts have been made over the past to deface the piece, most famously in 2012 by King Robbo who holds a rivalry with the elusive artist. With extensive building works taking place in the local vicinity, and further concerns upon its safety, the piece has been removed to be sensitively restored to its former glory.
“Currently under the management of The Sincura Group with a view to a sale in 2014, ‘No Ball Games’ has been gifted to a local charity with all profits being fed back into the community from where it originated. […]
“’No Ball Games’ will be one of three controversial headline pieces (and one of 50 overall pieces) in The Sincura Group’s 2014 Art Exhibition.
“The salvage and restoration work with this, and a number of other pieces, are currently being documented to give an inside into how this sensitive work is carried out.”
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