Banksy has confirmed he is the artist behind a new Great Escape themed graffiti that's appeared outside a former prison building in Reading, having shared a Bob Ross style video on social media.
The video, titled 'Create Escape', shows the artist arriving at the now-defunct Reading Prison and unpacking his equipment, before proceeding to spray-paint the shape of an inmate in striped clothing on a wall.
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He also stencils a typewriter, from which a long spool of paper provides the prisoner's means of escape - with the camera returning in daylight to show he is abseiling down it over the wall.
A drone shot travels above the wall to reveal that the artwork is outside a prison building, with two police officers seen looking up at the graffiti.
The clip is also accompanied by archive commentary from The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.
Reading Prison has been derelict since 2013, having famously once housed Oscar Wilde after his affair with Lord Alfred Douglas.
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Wilde was at the prison for two years between 1895 and 1897, writing the poem 'Ballad of Reading Gaol' during his stay to comment on the brutality of the Victorian penal system.
The former institution was put up for sale by the government in 2019, but after a deal with developers fell through last year, Reading Council said it hoped to revive its bid to turn the Grade II-listed building into an arts complex - with the Mirror reporting that the Ministry of Justice is due to decide its fate by 15 March.
The Ministry of Justice said it was 'aware that Banksy has confirmed he is responsible for the graffiti'.
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It added: "We are considering next steps and will provide an update in due course."
Reading Borough Council said Banksy's new artwork suggested he was backing the campaign to save the prison from developers.
It said: "We are thrilled that Banksy appears to have thrown his support behind the council's desire to transform the vacant Reading Gaol into a beacon of arts, heritage and culture with this piece of artwork he has aptly called Create Escape.
"The council is pushing the Ministry of Justice, who own the site, to make suitable arrangements to protect the image."
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Professor Paul Gough, Banksy expert and vice-chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth, said the artwork may be about the future use of the building, or commentary on what is happening with news media and Facebook.
Speaking to the BBC, Gough said: "It's probably one of Banksy's less well-known features is that he has in the past donated quite a lot of work to what he thinks are charitable causes.
"So to give a piece of work to an organisation or at least in the interest of art has happened before - he's painted pictures on the side of youth clubs or in organisations he wants to be seen lending a hand.
"So there is a charitable arm to Banksy, which doesn't get written about or get celebrated very often."
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He added: "I think it's terrific for art, public discourse, and draws attention to a brick wall - a lovely brick wall - that normally people would walk straight past, so it helps you see your public realm in different ways."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: UK News, News, Art, Banksy