Nine days of work but what does it mean?

World-famous graffiti artist Banksy has concluded his journey with animals, after nine days of pop-up artworks spread across the capital. It ended with a piece about the shutters of London Zoo..

Although all the surprise pieces have now been revealed, speculation about the inspiration behind them still rages. What do these pieces mean, and how have they been received by the art and graffiti world?

Banksy’s latest work, outside London Zoo in Camden, north London, shows a gorilla lifting a camera shutter to release a sea lion and birds, while other animals appear to be looking in.

But the series of artworks began to move with a piece on August 5 showing Goat standing on the edge of a rock while rocks fall On a wall in Kew Green in Richmond, south-west London.

This was quickly followed on August 6 by an artwork depicting two elephants trying to reach each other’s trunks, and three monkeys hanging from a railway bridge on Brick Lane in east London, on August 7.

By the third day, speculation was rife online about whether the series had a deeper meaning.

Perhaps the goats were a metaphor for standing on the edge of a moment of change, or perhaps the two elephants were reaching out from opposite sides of something? Perhaps the three monkeys represented the “wise monkeys” in the famous Japanese proverb “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”?

Theories have ranged from focusing on the chain Social division amid recent riots, to the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

James Ryan, chief executive of the Grove Gallery, which sells Banksy’s original and printed works, told BBC London that he initially thought the works carried “politically charged messages, the goats – references to Palestine and Gaza, and then the wolf crying for help – some kind of persecution”.

However, since the final piece was revealed, it is believed that there is a theme of “imprisonment; trapped animals” in the series.

Ryan added that while there were new elements to Banksy’s campaign such as building momentum by posting daily “teasers” on social media, there were also references to his previous work with the gorilla piece reminiscent of his 2006 work “Sweep It Under the Carpet” depicting a maid with a shovel and brush which was also painted in north London.

James Peake, BBC Wildlife presenter Banksy’s StoryHe explained that the artist was “very concerned about animal welfare” and “helped Greenpeace with a campaign a few years ago”.

The artist has also made environmental themes part of his work in the past, he said, writing cardboard signs and dropping them into monkey enclosures at Longleat Zoo and Melbourne Zoo in Australia, “so the monkeys would hold up pieces of cardboard saying things like ‘Please help me I’m a victim of a cruel scientific experiment’ or even ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here.’”

Banksy’s campaigns “often only make sense when you look back,” he added.

He said the series could simply represent “this great escape by gorillas from London Zoo, which explains why there were all these animals in the London sky last week”.

“It may have a really dangerous purpose – that we’re not doing enough to ensure that animals have enough natural space globally,” he added.

The pieces were not without their problems either.

A howling wolf was sprayed on a satellite dish in Peckham, south-east London, It looks like it was taken by thieves..

Authorities in London have removed two more, the first – a cat silhouette painted on a billboard in Edgware Road in Cricklewood – was Removed for security reasons.

The City of London Corporation said another painting painted on August 11 – piranhas swimming on a City of London Police sentry box – had been moved to Guildhall Square so it could be safely viewed.

Two others were mutilated.including two elephants sprayed with white stripes.

However, it was the vandalism of the penultimate artwork, depicting a rhinoceros (which was originally mounted on a Nissan Micra with a traffic cone on the bonnet) in Charlton, south-east London, that rekindled an old feud between Banksy and his father. The venerable competitor Robo.

Ahmed Karkouti, from the Arms House to Your Mom’s House podcast, which specialises in graffiti and street art, told BBC London that the white S, or dollar sign, and the V, symbolise a local graffiti team called the South Vandals.

He added that he received footage of the defacement along with the message “Southern Vandals for Life! Robo Team.”

Mr. Karkouti explained that the late Robo, who was from London, was inspired by the differences in the way socially acceptable street art was valued compared to traditional graffiti, which was widely considered criminal damage.

While the hidden meanings and broader battles remain up for debate, what is clear to enthusiasts is that Banksy has managed to capture the world’s attention – again.

Mr Ryan said the series “achieved the desired effect he wanted”, which was to “create this theatre” that “affirms” his status as a “trendsetter”.

Mr. Beck agrees with this view.

“This campaign lasted eight or nine days and it was fantastic. It made London and the whole UK speak for itself.”