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Nurse turns superhero in Banksy's NHS tribute

A young boy chooses a nurse as the superhero he wants to play with over Batman and Spiderman in a new artwork by Banksy that encapsulates the gratitude Britons have felt toward the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.

The painting by the secretive street artist was unveiled at University Hospital Southampton, in south England, on Wednesday (6).


An image of the work was also posted on Banksy's Instagram page with the caption "Game Changer".

Hospital chief executive Paula Head said: "So proud to reveal this amazing piece of art 'Painting for Saints', created by #Banksy as a thank you to all those who work with and for the NHS and our hospital."

"An inspirational backdrop to pause and reflect in these unprecedented times," she added on Twitter.

It is not the first Banksy work inspired by Covid-19. He posted scenes of his trademark stencilled rats running amok in a bathroom last month, accompanied by the comment: "My wife hates it when I work from home."

His existing "Girl with a Pierced Eardrum" mural was also updated with the addition of a blue surgical mask, although the update was not confirmed to be his work on Instagram.

The new painting will be on display at the hospital until after the lockdown and it will then be auctioned for NHS charities, according to the BBC.

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I’m Mareyah, a sustainability strategist and passionate home cook, exploring the links between climate, culture and food. Drawing on my Pakistani heritage, I champion the value of traditional knowledge and everyday cooking as a powerful - yet often overlooked - tool for climate action. My work focuses on making sustainability accessible by celebrating the flavours, stories and practices that have been passed down through generations.

As someone who grew up surrounded by the flavours and stories of my Pakistani heritage, food has always been more than nourishment - it’s about connections, culture and memory. It’s one of the only things that unites us all. We cook it, eat it and talk about it every day, even if our ingredients and traditions differ. We live in a world where climate change is a looming threat, and we’re constantly seeing images of crises and mentions of highly technical or political answers. But, what if one of the solutions was closer to home?

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