Banksy's Ephemeral Lighthouse: Vandalized, Restored, and Protected in Marseille

Banksy's Marseille Lighthouse Mural Vandalized, Then Restored Marseille, France – A new Banksy artwork in Marseille, depicting a lighthouse with the words "I want to be what you saw in me," had a short life. The mural appeared on June 2nd, 2025, and was quickly discovered by the media. However, within 48 hours, it was tagged with graffiti. The video shows the piece before, during, and after the vandalism and subsequent cleaning. The speed of the defacement and restoration is remarkable. "A peine deux jours après sa découverte, l'œuvre de Banksy taguée, est restaurée," reads a text overlay in the video, translating to "Barely two days after its discovery, the Banksy work, tagged, is restored." This highlights the rapid sequence of events. Local authorities responded swiftly. A text overlay states, "Des policiers municipaux vont patrouiller dans le secteur," meaning "Municipal police will patrol the area." The video shows the police presence after the cleaning. The incident underscores the fragility of street art and the challenges of protecting such works in public spaces. The quick response from the authorities, however, shows a commitment to preserving art in the city.