While the falling snow was lovely and the curling club welcomed normality, the Banksy Exhibit was the Czechia's highlight!
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Some context: the artist’s identity is unknown and their works pop up all around the world. Their work is usually categorized as “graffiti” but has themes rooted in social and political commentary. One quote sums up their worldview, “if you don’t own a train company you go and paint on one instead.” Much of their work is interpreted as narratives on consumerism, war, imperialism, poverty, and the environment. |
⬇️ Seasons’s Greetings (2018) ⬇️
As we were walking through, I only saw the second panel of this two sided piece. This slight allusion is intentional. The child is seen as catching, what appears to be, snow on their tongue. As many of us have done! But with the second panel it is actually a dumpster on fire and the child is tasting the ash and trash particulate! According to WHO, air pollution impacts upward of 90% of the worldwide child population.
⬇️ Slave Labour (2012) ⬇️
Ooooof. This one is fairly evident. In 2012 London hosted the Olympics and celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. There were souvenirs and paraphernalia everywhere for both events. Nearly all of it was produced overseas by children in sweatshop conditions.
⬇️ Napalm ⬇️
I recently finished the booked, “The Girl in the Picture” by Denise Chong. It is the remarkable story of the woman we all know from the moment she ran out of her village after a napalm strike by the US Army on her village. She’s naked and her skin is burning. It’s one I’ve shown every year in class, so when we walked up on this painting I recognized it right away. It is a direct message on US foreign policy, its motivation, and the role of consumerism in those decisions. The smiling faces on Mickey and Ronald are hard to reconcile with the atrocities of the Vietnam War.
⬇️ Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament ⬇️
A reminder of how many wars in the modern era are fought in the name of peace and democracy. Two armed soldiers painting a peace sign is, well, ironic.
⬇️ Grannies ⬇️
I loved this one!! They’re crocheting punk rock sayings and have happy smiles. This painting is suppose to represent the compassion and understanding of age towards the youth. They have nostalgia to a time when they too were rebellious. I love this take on previous generations over them being always cantankerous and lacking in empathy.
⬇️ Red Cross Wait for the Press ⬇️In a world of the 24hr news cycle, this hits home. Especially right now with images coming out of Gaza and Israel. It is hard to know what is clickbait for more profit. Here Banksy is offering the notion that our consumption of media can actually be hindering genuine remedied efforts. I’d assume that something as horrific as the Red Cross actually being held back for a photo op of a kid in crisis doesn’t actually happen. I also wouldn’t be surprised.
⬇️ Don’t Forget ⬇️
To my momma, and all the moms in my life, thank you! Our moms love and encourage us to make our mark. Even if our passions are off the beaten path. Also makes me think of John Lewis’s quote, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble…”
Grateful for my mom, and dad, for letting me be myself. For not wrapping me in a bullet proof vest. For letting me make mistakes, allowing me to struggle just enough, and encouraging whatever path I found myself on.
⬇️ Police Kids ⬇️
At first glance I expected this one to be a statement on police brutality or school shootings. It’s not! It’s rather a play on words that we police, and protect, youth to the point that they can’t follow their own curiosities and learn and explore on their own. We wrap them in bullet proof vests instead and weigh down that spirit.
⬇️ Consumerism ⬇️
The irony that we stumbled into this exhibit while on a trip dedicated to experiencing Christmas markets - where you’re encouraged to buy as much Christmas junk and consume as many mulled wines as possible - is not lost on me. Banksy’s criticism on consumerism really spoke to me. The first image of kids basically pledging allegiance to consumerism was hefty. You can really see this in schools around things like video games and phones as they scramble for the next and newest. Some schools are even getting sponsorships from companies like Pepsi as long as all the kids wear their products. The religious symbolism mixed with a sales sign in the second one seems harsh but real. Again, during the holidays, the irony is real!
I would absolutely go to another Banksy Exhibit. The artist has an unknown number of works, as they’re often temporary art. They are covered up by other artists, taken down by institutions, removed to be sold, or in the case of Ukraine or Gaza, they’re destroyed by the very forces the artist is highlighting.
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