Banksy mural removed in Venice for restoration

The mural "The Migrant Child", created by English street artist Banksy in Venice, Italy, has been removed for restoration.

The work, created during the 2019 Venice Biennale, depicts a child wearing a life jacket holding a pink flare. The site has become a tourist attraction, but the painting has deteriorated due to water damage.

The process of removing the mural from the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon for restoration was financed by the local bank Banca Ifis. Over six years, approximately 30% of the work's surface area was damaged.

The project is led by a conservation group headed by Federico Borgogni. Work began on June 3rd, as the removal of the work underwent a long phase of dust removal, surface consolidation, and cleaning.

The part of the wall that was removed was taken to a kind of workshop so that Borgogni could carry out the final stages of restoration.

The intervention involves the selective removal of damaged areas of the wall and the repositioning of the work on a new surface.

Next, experts will fill in the empty spaces and apply a subtle coat of paint. Once this work is complete, the restoration will be definitively complete, and Banksy's work will once again be made available to the public for free.