14:13 GMT, 15 May 2012
Jubilee graffiti of sweatshop boy with sewing machine appears overnight at London bargain store
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A new piece of stencilled graffiti, possibly by Banksy, has appeared overnight on the wall of a Poundland shop in London.
It shows a young Asian boy hunched over a sewing machine with real Union Flag bunting attached - and given the artist's
controversial past works, it could be a dark reflection on the imminent Olympics or the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Residents near Turnpike Lane in Haringey, north London, noticed the artwork this morning on the side of the nearby bargain
store - which sells similar bunting - and has itself been at the centre of controversy.
Two years ago, Poundland launched an inquiry after a boy of seven was found to be working 100 hours a week in an Indian
sweatshop producing goods for the store.
The child, known as Ravi, was reportedly earning just 7p a hour to make napkin rings for the cut-price chain.
The company severed ties with the supplier and issued a statement saying it 'did not tolerate child labour under any circumstances'.
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All Banksy works can be found on his official website. The artist, who has amassed a fortune selling his work at auction, appeared
to have secretly painted the wall in the early hours of yesterday morning with the help of two collaborators. Excited locals gathered
round to take photos of the artwork, which could be worth thousands of pounds.
James Longshaw, 42, who works in new media said, 'Banksy is promoting an issue by painting this but I don’t
think a lot of people will know what it means – they might think it is just any graffiti.'
In the past, graffiti by the elusive artist has caused house prices to skyrocket. In 2008, a Portobello Road wall adorned with his
name fetched £200,000 on eBay.
His work is known for its strident anti-establishment message, which has done nothing to damage his popularity among celebrities
and the super-rich – his 2010 film Exit Through The Gift Shop was nominated for an Oscar.
Jubilee graffiti of sweatshop boy with sewing machine appears overnight at London bargain store
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A new piece of stencilled graffiti, possibly by Banksy, has appeared overnight on the wall of a Poundland shop in London.
It shows a young Asian boy hunched over a sewing machine with real Union Flag bunting attached - and given the artist's
controversial past works, it could be a dark reflection on the imminent Olympics or the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Residents near Turnpike Lane in Haringey, north London, noticed the artwork this morning on the side of the nearby bargain
store - which sells similar bunting - and has itself been at the centre of controversy.
Two years ago, Poundland launched an inquiry after a boy of seven was found to be working 100 hours a week in an Indian
sweatshop producing goods for the store.
The child, known as Ravi, was reportedly earning just 7p a hour to make napkin rings for the cut-price chain.
The company severed ties with the supplier and issued a statement saying it 'did not tolerate child labour under any circumstances'.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=article-2144677-1319FDF5000005DC-550_636x519.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/article-2144677-1319FDF5000005DC-550_636x519.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
All Banksy works can be found on his official website. The artist, who has amassed a fortune selling his work at auction, appeared
to have secretly painted the wall in the early hours of yesterday morning with the help of two collaborators. Excited locals gathered
round to take photos of the artwork, which could be worth thousands of pounds.
James Longshaw, 42, who works in new media said, 'Banksy is promoting an issue by painting this but I don’t
think a lot of people will know what it means – they might think it is just any graffiti.'
In the past, graffiti by the elusive artist has caused house prices to skyrocket. In 2008, a Portobello Road wall adorned with his
name fetched £200,000 on eBay.
His work is known for its strident anti-establishment message, which has done nothing to damage his popularity among celebrities
and the super-rich – his 2010 film Exit Through The Gift Shop was nominated for an Oscar.
