One of the buildings on the site used to be decorated by an original work created by Banksy in 2017. In 2019 the artwork was painted over by anonymous hands. Following thorough investigations, it was found that the work, prompted by the artist’s thoughts about the UK leaving the European Union, could not be saved in its present form not least because the building on which it is painted is in a dangerous condition.
In collaboration with Dover District Council, in March 2023 a team from Factum Foundation was tasked to record the shape and surface of the painted-over wall in high-resolution, using LiDAR and photogrammetry, in order to preserve the digital data of the painted wall, which will become part of the town’s historical records in addition to the countless pictures taken of the work before its disappearance.
The high-resolution data can now be used to recreate the artwork in digital or even physical form as a facsimile, in a new location around the town or elsewhere, subject to Banksy’s approval.
Celestia Anstruther recording the wall using photogrammetry © Factum Foundation
Banksy’s mural in Dover before being painted over © Paul Appleyard
Pedro Miró using a LiDAR scanner to capture the building’s accurate measurements © Factum Foundation
