Girl with a Pierced Eardrum

Girl with a Pierced Eardrum is a 2014 mural by anonymous street artist Banksy, on the wall of a building in Hanover Place, Spike Island, Bristol, England. Appearing overnight on 20 October 2014, it is a parody of Girl with a Pearl Earring, c. 1665 by Johannes Vermeer, instead replacing the pearl earring with an existing security alarm.[3]

Girl with a Pierced Eardrum
ArtistBanksy
Completion date20 October 2014 (2014-10-20)
TypeMural
MediumStencil graffiti
MovementStreet art
SubjectGirl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
ConditionPartially defaced
LocationAlbion Dockyard, Hanover Place, Spike Island, Bristol, England[1]
Coordinates51°26′52″N 2°36′35″W / 51.447672°N 2.609816°W / 51.447672; -2.609816
Preceded byMobile Lovers (2014)[2]
Followed byThe Son of a Migrant from Syria (2015)
Girl with a pierced Eardrum

The mural was partially defaced with black paint two days after it first appeared, on 22 October 2014.[4][5]

Description

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Girl with a Pearl Earring, which the mural is based off

Girl with a Pierced Eardrum is at the end of a small alley on a building in Albion Dockyard in Hanover Place, Bristol.[6] It is stencilled graffiti and depicts an enlarged version of part of Girl with a Pearl Earring, a c. 1665 oil-on-canvas painting by Johannes Vermeer. It is on a wall, positioned so that an existing yellow security alarm replaces the pearl earring.[7]

It appeared overnight on 20 October 2014, with Banksy announcing the artwork on their website on the same day.[8] Two days later, the mural was vandalised and partially defaced with black paint, above and to the left of the mural.[4][5] No culprit has ever been identified.

2020 masking

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In April 2020, a fabric face mask appeared on the wall, covering the face of the Girl in the mural. This referred to the masks worn by healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] It was not known exactly when the mask was installed,[10] or who installed it. The BBC reportedly contacted Banksy at the time of the mask installation for comment.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Banksy Graffiti The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum". Visit Bristol. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. ^ "New Banksy 'earring' mural appears in Bristol Harbourside". BBC News. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, 2014". Banksy Explained. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b Stevens, Jenny (22 October 2014). "Banksy's 'Girl with the Pierced Eardrum' vandalised in Bristol". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b Dearden, Lizzie (22 October 2014). "New Banksy 'Girl with the Pierced Eardrum' appears in Bristol – and it's already been defaced". The Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Self-guided Banksy walking tour in Bristol: Where to see 10 original Banksy art". The Intrepid Guide. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  7. ^ Frank, Priscilla (21 October 2014). "Banksy Gets All Vermeer In His New Mural". Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  8. ^ Jobson, Christopher (20 October 2014). "'Girl with a Pierced Eardrum' by Banksy". Colossal. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  9. ^ Suggs, Tania (23 April 2020). "Coronavirus: Banksy's Girl With A Pierced Eardrum gets a COVID-19 face mask". Sky News. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. ^ Braddick, Imogen (22 April 2020). "Banksy's Girl with a Pierced Eardrum given face mask in nod to coronavirus pandemic". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Coronavirus: Banksy's Girl with a Pierced Eardrum given face mask". BBC News. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2023.