One Nation Under CCTV, Street art mural in Westminster, England
One Nation Under CCTV was a graffiti mural in Westminster showing a child in a red hood painting text while a police officer and dog watched, all set next to surveillance cameras. The entire composition formed a direct statement against constant observation in the city's urban spaces.
The mural appeared in 2007 on Newman Street and was removed three years later by Westminster City Council, which viewed it as unauthorized commercial art. Its removal was part of a broader response by authorities to graffiti artworks during that period.
The image of a child in a red hood resonated with London's growing concerns about surveillance in public spaces. The work captured a feeling many residents shared at the time—a question about the balance between security and personal freedom in the city.
The original work was on the wall of a former Royal Mail building and drew many visitors who documented it before removal. Today, those interested can explore the artwork's history through online archives and photographic records.
The artist positioned the work directly beneath an actual surveillance camera, making the real device itself part of the artwork's message. This choice of placement doubled the impact and made the statement more immediate for passersby.
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