Art, creativity and the imagination

How do Banksy’s works affect their audience? What is their message? What are the means with which the message is conveyed? 

In 2005, Banksy made a trip to Palestine, where he painted multiple murals critiquing the 'Israel vs. Palestine' conflict. Most of them openly criticize the very idea of war and violence. It is safe to assume, based on his approach, that Banksy argues for peace and the Palestinian side of the conflict.

As a street artist, Banksy uses location to add another level of meaning to his work. While the designs themselves carry meaning behind them, the placement and the location of his works are of almost equal importance. Thanks to the public placement of his art, the work can reach a bigger audience than it would in e.g. a museum. The murals can be seen by the Palestinians, who when seeing the work, could be greatly affected by the portrayal of the conflict that plagues their day-to-day life.

Unwelcome Intervention (2005)

In the wake of the 'Israel vs. Palestine' conflict, Banksy chose to paint a faux hole in the wall with a 'paradise' peeking from the other side. From the perspective of Palestine, Israel almost resembles the promised land, with its majestic nature on the other side of the wall. The style of the image behind the false hole is photorealistic and perfect, especially when compared to the style that the two boys are painted in. The contrast between the two art styles represents the contrast between the perception of Israel and Palestine. 

While the Israelis see the wall as protection against terrorism, the Palestinians see it as a device to employ and uphold racial segregation. Banksy uses juxtaposition and contrast to represent the theme of segregation. The message is to illustrate this awful paradox created by building a wall. 

The artwork depicts two Palestinian children playing with a shovel and a bucket, like children would do while playing at the beach. They are presented in Banksy's signature black-and-white style, achieved by using a stencil. It contrasts the beautiful image of Israel on the other side. Banksy represents what is behind the hole while playing on the notion of the grass being greener on the other side.  In fact, what is behind that wall is filled with just as much hatred and war as on the Palestinian side. 

The fact that there is a 'paradise' where the wall is broken, may also suggest that peace could be achieved when the barrier wall is destroyed. Through painting this mural, Banksy is openly advocating for the destruction of the barrier wall and the end of the racial segregation in the region that has been plagued with conflict for decades.

Armored Dove (2005)

On the West Bank barrier wall, Banksy painted a white dove of peace to contrast the barrier wall that symbolizes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

The white dove is a universal symbol of peace, however, to show the brutality of the ongoing conflict, Banksy shows the dove in an armored vest and with a target on its chest. The wall itself is covered in real bullet holes, that only further emphasize the effect of the image.

The artwork shows an oppositional approach to the idea of the barrier wall. Just like in "Unwelcome Intervention", he uses juxtaposition to present his beliefs and ideas. In addition to that, e uses contrast to present the ambiguity of the perception of the conflict. On one hand, it is a move towards peace, as the Israelis believe. On the other hand, the Palestinians treat the wall as a tool for racial segregation. The image can leave a viewer with an unsettling feeling, as it shows that even the most peaceful and innocent can be affected by the unjust of war.

Description of a Banksy Artwork- Rage, the Flower Thrower

Rage, the Flower Thrower (2005)

One, if not the most important, aspect of this work is its location. Banksy is known for the clever placement of his art that often carries as much meaning behind it as the work itself. As a street artist, his aim is for the art to be seen by the masses and sometimes, like in this instance, he intends for it to be seen by a particular crowd. The work was painted in Sahour, Bethlehem- a high-conflict place for the 'Israel vs. Palestine' conflict.

The conscious choice of location is representative of the composition of the piece. The composition is open, therefore allowing the piece to almost blend in with its surroundings. The piece depicts a violent man dressed in riot gear. The bottom part of his face is covered, and his eyes show pure rage. The actual size of the mural depicts the man as much bigger than an average human, and he is cropped from the knees down. The painting is mostly just black paint, therefore there isn’t any sense of light and dark or depth. 

The man stands in a position typical for someone who is about to throw a molotov cocktail during a riot, yet his weapon is replaced with a bouquet. The flowers are the only source of color in the mural and create a juxtaposition- the colorful flowers contrast the thick, graphic lines used to portray the man. Even though the work was painted in a place that might be very used to violence and rioting, they were probably not used to this kind of approach. Instead of showing violence and crime as it is, Banksy turns it around- the rioting man throws a bouquet as a message of love instead of hate.