LONDON • Street artist Banksy has followed official advice to stay at home during the coronavirus crisis by creating a new artwork in his bathroom that shows his trademark stencilled rats running amok around the sink and toilet.

The elusive artist posted photos of the work on his Instagram site on Wednesday, along with the comment: "My wife hates it when I work from home."

Banksy, whose identity remains a secret, uses the site to authenticate murals after they are painted in public locations, most recently in the English cities of Bristol and Birmingham.

The new work, like much during lockdown, can be experienced only online.

It shows stir-crazy rats squeezing a tube of toothpaste, hanging off the light switch, unravelling toilet rolls and urinating over the toilet seat.

Works by Banksy have rocketed in value. His painting of chimpanzees sitting in Britain's Parliament sold for more than US$12 million (S$17 million) last October, a record price at auction for his work.

REUTERS