A new piece of street art has appeared beside the famous Banksy lighthouse mural in Marseille, France, created by a mystery artist calling themselves 'Banski.' The satirical work features a young boy pointing at Banksy's lighthouse graffiti and asking, 'Will they protect me too behind glass?' This pointed commentary addresses the controversial decision to protect the British artist's work with plexiglass while other street art remains vulnerable to removal.
The original Banksy lighthouse artwork was created in late May 2025 and quickly became a tourist attraction in the French coastal city. However, after being vandalized, city officials decided on June 6 to install protective plexiglass covering over the piece. This decision sparked debate about the selective treatment of street art, with some questioning why certain works receive protection while others are regularly painted over or removed.
Local residents and tourists have had mixed reactions to the new 'Banski' piece. One Marseille resident praised the work, saying, 'He didn't massacre the artist's drawing, it's a very good joke.' A German tourist viewed both pieces as equal art, stating that 'everyone is equal.' However, another passerby expressed skepticism about protecting street art at all, telling BFM Marseille Provence, 'I don't see the point in protecting it, whether it's Banksy, Picasso or another artist. When it's done on the street, it's meant to be temporary. Otherwise, put it in a museum and protect it there.'
The artist behind the 'Banski' piece has been revealed as Tapas Nocturne, a French street artist who posted on Instagram on August 17, asking, 'Do you think the hipsters will also protect it behind glass?' His goal is to highlight what he sees as the unfair treatment of different street artists and their work.
Tapas Nocturne explained his motivation, writing that 'Every day, hundreds of works from the graffiti movement are erased and entire sections of this movement's history disappear. People take risks and pay fines for work perceived as vandalism by the general public while others find themselves protected and congratulated.' His critique points to the double standard in how society treats street art depending on the artist's fame and reputation.
The question now remains whether the 'Banski' artwork will meet the same fate as countless other unauthorized street art pieces – being painted over or removed – or if it too will receive protection. For now, both works remain visible just steps away from Marseille's famous Corniche waterfront, creating an ongoing dialogue about art, protection, and the ephemeral nature of street culture.
