After months of silence, Banksy has once again caught public attention: a stencil of a lighthouse by the secretive and enigmatic street artist was discovered on Friday in a quiet street near the sea in Marseille.
The artwork depicts a dark lighthouse with a beam of white light, cleverly interacting with the shadow of a nearby pole, according to a journalist from French news agency AFP. A mysterious phrase accompanies the piece: “I want to be what you saw in me.”
Banksy, whose identity remains unknown, shared a photo of the artwork on Instagram but offered no commentary.
Altough he also produces paintings and sculptures, Banksy is mainly renowned for his impactful stencils, which often stir public excitement when they appear around the globe.
“It’s fascinating that Banksy chose a city like Marseille, full of art, diverse cultures, and life,” remarked Esteban Roldan, a 42-year-old carpenter who lives in Marseille and visited the artwork in a small street near Catalans beach, not far from the city centre.
“It’s very surprising and thrilling. I enjoyed the little quest to find its location. I’m delighted to have seen it,” said Susan McAllister, a 60-year-old teacher.
“It could mean different things: interpretation depends on what you believe, how you see things, but it could relate to the image of Marseille,” she added, pointing to the lighthouse image as a possible nod to the southern French port city.
Banksy’s works have generated tens of millions of dollars and made him one of the most famous living artists in the world.
