“I think I'm sophisticated 'cause I'm living my life
Like a good homo sapiens
But all around me everybody's multiplying and
They're walking round like flies man
So I'm no better than the animals sitting
In the cages in the zoo man
'Cause compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an apeman”
The Kinks
Along with rats, monkeys are a recurring motif in many of Banksy’s works. The monkey inhabits an important space (and has done since the early 200s) both in Banksy’s street art portfolio and commercially produced artworks. Presented through ironic juxtapositions, the monkey provides a wider insight into the human condition and a very firm tongue-in-cheek satirisation of society and wider humanity.
It goes without saying that when one thinks of monkeys thoughts inevitably are drawn to the close relationship that humans share and the work of the great English naturalist Charles Darwin and his publication: The Theory of Evolution. The work, which asserted that humans evolved from apes, caused shockwaves through the society of the time that are still felt today. Indeed, the conflict in us as a species seeking to distance ourselves from our closest genetic relatives is a central theme as to how Banksy portrays his seemingly simple simians.
Above the animal kingdom?
It is not just within the work of Banksy that we see humanity;s fascination with apes can be seen. Think within pop culture to Planet of the Apes, a dystopian future where apes rule the Earth, of the circus monkey - seemingly at the beck and call of the ringleader, a life of subjugation and even the mischievous emojis that we find on our phones. Monkeys and our relationship to them are ingrained within our consciousness. Yet, no matter how hard we try to move away from them they are always present.
Laugh Now (Door & Triptych)
One of Banksy’s most famous images, Laugh Now was originally commissioned by the Ocean Rooms nightclub in Brighton. First spray as a huge, six-metre long mural, the original work showed the image of the monkey repeated to create a line as the backdrop to the bar.
Standing upright, shoulders sloped with its head hanging down, perhaps beaten into conformity, “Laugh now but one day we’ll be in charge” greets us with the evolutionary counterpoint to our concept of being human; the monkey. Nature is placed secondary to humanity as evidence of ourselves imprinted in the work through the stencil board and writing, whilst the monkey, and by extension nature, is pushed to the background and serves as a mere item on which we place our superiority and dominance over all species. Laugh Now is both provocative and comedic and the contradictory phrase is executed with typical Banksy aplomb. The mysterious text on the board suggests that the monkey is in the cusp of a revolution and ready to take control – a Planet of the Apes reference perhaps??
Monkey Detonator
Caught mid-jump, Monkey Detonator shows a happy monkey, hands grasped around a detonator ready to ignite an explosion and cause chaos. The ironic twist in the work is that through detonating the explosive the monkey not only is harming the viewer (or those around him one would imagine) but causing damage to itself. The suicidal simian invites viewers into the absurdity of the image and brings disaster to the forefront. We imagine the chimp is unaware of the danger and is acting on its own accord until we spot the earpiece that is instructing him. Here we can read the work as a microcosm of humanity, of self-destruction and self-inflicted paint at the behest of others. Powerful and energetic, Monkey Detonator suggests an impending doom caused by our own hands.
Monkey Guns
An early work that was part of Andipa’s first Banksy show in 2006, Monkey Guns shows two stylised monkeys - back to back - holding arms. Facing outwards from the centre, the menacing and sombre tone - exaggerated by their suit wearing escapades - captures the viewer and brings them into the world of the piece. Recalling Pulp Fiction, the work is executed in Banksy’s signature stencil style and blends comic contrast with a darker feeling.
For more information on any of the works featured or our Banksy original paintings for sale and to buy Banksy signed prints, contact Andipa via sales@andipa.com or call +44 (0)20 7581 1244.