Banksy, the anonymous yet infamous UK-based graffiti artist, has had an active August; for nine days in a row, he sprayed animal-themed pieces across London. One placed above a fish and chip shop depicts two pelicans, another has two elephants appearing from window sills. The most recent shows a gorilla releasing animals into the wild outside London Zoo.

Given Banksy's undisclosed identity, the meaning of his work remains a mystery. As reported by The Guardian, Banksy's intention is simple: deliver amusement at a time when headlines overwhelmingly perpetuate gloom. Yet the BBC has put forward a string of more poignant theories focusing on animal welfare. Meanwhile, art critics have linked the work to Israel's war on Gaza as well as the recent racism-fuelled riots in Britain. Social media is naturally awash with interpretations.