‘Kristina’ is named and modelled after the sister of gallery owner Steve Lazarides, who is also called Kristina
(Picture: Laz Emporium)Police officers broke down the doors of an art gallery owned by Banksy’s former agent to help a woman slumped over a table - to find it was a work of art.
The Met took a distress call on November 25 and rushed to Laz Emporium in Soho where they saw what looked like an unconscious woman.
But it turned out ‘Kristina’ was actually made of packing tape and foam filler, and not actually a person at all but an artwork that gallery owner Steve Lazarides had commissioned.
Mr Lazarides said: "Hannah, who was working in the gallery that day, had just locked up and gone upstairs to make a cup of tea.
"She came down to find the door off its hinges and two confused police officers!"
The realistic sculpture is by American Mark Jenkins is based on Mr Lazarides' sister, also called Kristina, and can be seen from the window that looks into the gallery.
It has reportedly caused problems before, with paramedics called out to assist ‘Kristina’ in October, Artnet News reported.
The Met said officers were called at 5.32pm on “to concerns for the welfare of a person at a locked business premises on Lexington Street”.
Half an hour later, officers forced entry to the address where they uncovered that the person was in fact a mannequin.
A statement added: “The Met has a duty of care to respond when there are welfare concerns.”
