Banksy's latest anti-war artwork surfaced in Peckham, south London, featuring a "stop" traffic sign adorned with three-dimensional warplanes. Many interpreted this piece as a commentary on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. Astonishingly, less than one hour after its appearance, photographs captured two unidentified individuals removing the artwork. One of them ingeniously used a Lime Bike to reach the sign, while the other assisted in securing it.
Banksy, known for his enigmatic approach, had previously confirmed his authorship by sharing a photograph of the artwork on his Instagram account. However, he offered no further explanation or context.
In 2015, Banksy left a profound mark with his street art in Gaza, widely regarded as some of his most thought-provoking work to date. He incorporated graffiti stencils onto concrete rubble, accompanying his images with captions that resonated deeply. For instance, he captioned a stencil of a sorrowful, crouching figure with the words "Bomb damage, Gaza City." Another caption shed light on the dire conditions in Gaza, describing it as "the world's largest open-air prison," highlighting the daily struggles faced by its inhabitants.
Banksy's connection with Palestine dates back to 2005 when he created a series of artworks on the Palestinian side of the West Bank Wall, which separated Palestine from Israel. These murals included poignant imagery, such as two children holding a bucket and spade near one of the wall's openings and a girl suspended in the air, clutching balloons. Another mural featured a young boy sitting at the base of a rope ladder that extended to the top of the wall, symbolising the yearning for freedom.
In 2015, Banksy released a satirical tourism advertisement that juxtaposed images of destroyed buildings, rubble, military presence, and the separation wall with text that sardonically portrayed the hardships faced by the locals. The video ended with a powerful message spray-painted on the West Bank Wall: "If we wash our hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless we side with the powerful – we don't remain neutral."
Notably, last year, Banksy contributed to the Ukrainian cause by creating seven new murals in regions heavily affected by the Russian invasion.
In a surprising revelation, it appeared that Banksy had disclosed his real name in an unearthed interview from 2003. The artist confirmed, via a press release shared by the BBC, that his name is Robert Banks, with the interviewer originally proposing "Robert Banks" and Banksy correcting it to "Robbie."
The latest street art piece evokes memories of Banksy's 2017 work titled "Civilian Drone Strike," featuring three General Atomics MQ-1 Predator drones hovering above a child's drawing of a bombed house, with a child and a pet witnessing the destruction. This artwork was generously donated to the Art the Arms Fair gallery and exhibited during the 2017 DSEI arms fair, ultimately fetching £205,000 in a sale that contributed to the Campaign Against Arms Trade and Reprieve. Banksy has consistently used his art to support anti-war causes, as exemplified by his 2009 work "CND Soldiers," which initially appeared as a mural in London.
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