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| Port Talbot Banksy mural: Crane lifts artwork from garage | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A garage wall bearing Banksy's artwork has been lifted away by a crane as it heads to a new gallery in Port Talbot. | |
| Contractors began transferring the piece - painted across two external walls of the garage - on Tuesday. | |
| Gallery owner John Brandler paid a six-figure sum for Season's Greetings which was daubed on the walls of original owner Ian Lewis' garage. | |
| Mr Lewis found its ownership stressful and although glad to see it gone, he said he was "proud" of the outcome. | |
| "It's been life changing," Mr Lewis said, reflecting on the past six months. "It's been a real mix; it's been a pleasure, it's been a pain, it's been exciting, it's been stressful." | "It's been life changing," Mr Lewis said, reflecting on the past six months. "It's been a real mix; it's been a pleasure, it's been a pain, it's been exciting, it's been stressful." |
| After months of planning, engineers used a crane to lift the 4.5 tonne mural on to a HGV within a few seconds in front of large crowds before gently touching down on the back of the lorry about two minutes later. | |
| It will now be transported - under police escort - about a mile away to the Ty'r Orsaf building, where it will go on display. | |
| The image had appeared on two sides of the garage in December, one depicting a child enjoying snow falling - the other side revealing it was a fire emitting ash. | The image had appeared on two sides of the garage in December, one depicting a child enjoying snow falling - the other side revealing it was a fire emitting ash. |
| "Whether you are for or against the steel works here - and personally I worked there for 28 years - I think people from Port Talbot feel passionate about the Banksy," Mr Lewis added. | "Whether you are for or against the steel works here - and personally I worked there for 28 years - I think people from Port Talbot feel passionate about the Banksy," Mr Lewis added. |
| "I don't think I'll miss it, but I probably will pop in and visit it. I'm pretty proud of the outcome to be honest with you." | "I don't think I'll miss it, but I probably will pop in and visit it. I'm pretty proud of the outcome to be honest with you." |
| Essex-based Mr Brandler said he was feeling confident the move would go to plan, but realised people would be watching closely for any disasters or further stunts by the artist. | Essex-based Mr Brandler said he was feeling confident the move would go to plan, but realised people would be watching closely for any disasters or further stunts by the artist. |
| "If anything goes wrong, yes it's going to make it 100 times more famous, but [Banksy] has already done that stunt," said Mr Brandler, referring to an artwork that self-destructed after auction. | "If anything goes wrong, yes it's going to make it 100 times more famous, but [Banksy] has already done that stunt," said Mr Brandler, referring to an artwork that self-destructed after auction. |
| "This isn't one that's going to burst into flames, it's not one that's going to get shredded." | "This isn't one that's going to burst into flames, it's not one that's going to get shredded." |
| Mr Brandler said he believed the mural was capable of attracting up to 150,000 visitors to the town each year - and he remains committed to keeping it in Port Talbot. | Mr Brandler said he believed the mural was capable of attracting up to 150,000 visitors to the town each year - and he remains committed to keeping it in Port Talbot. |
| "Before, when you looked over at the artwork you were seeing the pollution coming out of the chimneys behind us - that's why it belongs here," he explained. | "Before, when you looked over at the artwork you were seeing the pollution coming out of the chimneys behind us - that's why it belongs here," he explained. |
| "It wouldn't look the same in the Tate gallery, or a gallery in Mayfair, or New York or Paris. I felt it belonged here." | "It wouldn't look the same in the Tate gallery, or a gallery in Mayfair, or New York or Paris. I felt it belonged here." |
| Mr Brandler said discussions were ongoing about the gallery becoming an international street art museum. | Mr Brandler said discussions were ongoing about the gallery becoming an international street art museum. |