Banksy fragment removed from wall for Liverpool museum sparks outrage

Plans for a Street Art Museum in Liverpool, set to open between late 2017 and early 2018, have ignited controversy after a fragment of a Banksy mural was removed from a wall. The museum, developed by Nord Global Property, will feature six Banksy works removed by Sincura Group, a firm specializing in extracting and selling the artist's pieces. The latest removal targeted the 'Love Plane' mural on Rumford Street, where only the biplane was salvaged; the heart will be recreated inside the museum. Critics, including graffiti artist Sam Fishwick, argue that street art loses its essence when displayed in a gallery. The building housing the mural was slated for renovation, and promoters claim the work would have been destroyed otherwise. Peter McInnes of Nord Global Property stated they have identified two or three additional Banksy pieces in the city for potential acquisition.