Banksy turns nurse into superhero for new work unveiled at UK hospital

The work, entitled 'Painting for Saints', will be auctioned off to raise money for the NHS this autumn

A picture shows a drawing created by the street artist Banksy called "Game Changer" as an appreciation for the NHS and is on display at Southampton General Hospital, in Southampton, Britain May 6, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media. It shows a boy dressed in dungarees playing with a nurse superhero toy with figures of Batman and Spiderman discarded in a basket on the floor. @BANKSY INSTRAGRAM/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Banksy captioned the photo of his new work 'Game Changer' when he posted it to social media. It is currently on display at Southampton General Hospital as an appreciation for the NHS. Banksy / Instagram

Sophie Prideaux

May 07, 2020

Never one to shy away from social commentary, it was only a matter of time before a coronavirus-themed Banksy appeared.

The elusive street artist has turned a nurse into a superhero for his latest work, which was unveiled at a UK hospital on Wednesday evening.

The work shows a young boy putting his Spider-Man and Batman toys in the bin, instead choosing to play with a doll of a nurse, making her the new superhero.

The artwork perfectly captures the mood in the UK and the world right now, as healthcare workers put their lives on the line in the fight against Covid-19.

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"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," said Paula Head, chief executive of Southampton General Hospital, where the work was unveiled.

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

Banksy also posted the work to his official Instagram account, alongside the caption: "Game Changer".

One user commented: "Hits hard," while another added, "The real heroes."

Southampton General Hospital has been directly impacted by the loss of staff members due to Covid-19. The new painting will be on display at the hospital until after the autumn, when it will be auctioned for NHS charities.