Last week, a mural was painted on the side of a vacant building in a north London neighborhood, artfully re-foliating a pruned tree in the Islington North area. The mural consisted of green, dripping paint to suggest new foliage for a nearby tree. On the lower left side of the piece, a stencil of a person holds a paint sprayer while they gaze upwards. Though no one knows officially, the mural appears to have gone up on Sunday, March 17. Then, on Monday, it was confirmed by an Instagram post from Banksy himself that the pseudonymous artist was behind the work. He posted before-and-after images and later reported that the building is currently vacant and for rent, but that he plans to keep the mural up. Banksy took a paint-peeling, dirty wall and a sawed-up, stumpy tree and turned them into works of art.
James Peak, creator of the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, told the BBC that the work has an obvious message: “Nature’s struggling, and it is up to us to help it grow back.” When looking at this piece, Banksy chose a very urban and populated environment in which to place his piece, with the tree sitting in the old gardens of a social housing. The stencil of the figure was a “classic Banksy-style stencil, ” says Peak. “It looks like the tree has burst into life, but in a noticeably fake and synthetic way. And it’s pretty subtle for a massive tree, I’d say. It’s spring now, and this tree should be bursting forth with leaves, but Banksy must have cycled past and thought how miserable it looks.”
So basically, the guy’s a genius, plain and simple. There is something about his art and his messages that just cuts through all the noise and speaks directly to the viewer. It’s like he is this mysterious voice in the urban landscape, saying all the things that people today are too afraid to say or admit to themselves. Think about it: In a world bombarded with advertisements and messages that are constantly trying to get our money or our signature, Banksy comes along and simply makes a statement for the world to see. No one knows who he is; no one has seen his face; he just puts the thought out there to spread awareness. He takes that same world and turns it into a canvas and a conversation, forcing us to stop and think about the issues in this world that should probably be getting more attention.
Back in 2002, Banksy’s piece “Laugh Now” was commissioned by the Ocean Rooms nightclub in Brighton. The almost 20-foot-long stenciled mural features ten monkeys in a line, each wearing a sandwich board sign saying, “Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge.” This piece suggests the monkey is oppressed but not defeated. The message is a prediction that the unwanted of the world will one day revolt against their tormentors. It has also been read as a criticism of the way humans treat primates, such as by abusing them for entertainment or animal testing. This theme touches upon many other works by Banksy, such as “Monkey Poison” or “Barcode.” However, as is always the case with Banksy, there are many possible interpretations to be made about his art.
And it is not just the art that is impactful; it is the way he does it. The whole mystery surrounding his identity adds this extra layer of intrigue. I mean, no one knows officially who this guy is; he could even be a woman. It is like a real-life game of cat and mouse, and we are all eagerly watching to see what move he’ll make next. In a world where it seems anyone would bathe in the light of fame when given a chance, here is this artist who shuns the spotlight and prefers to remain in the shadows. I think that is another way he makes his messages so meaningful. You never know when or where he is going to strike next. It could be a piece on the side of a building, a surprise installation in a museum or even a stunt at an auction. Let’s be real: in an age of social media and oversharing, it is refreshing.
But perhaps what is most remarkable about Banksy is the way his art transcends borders and boundaries. For years, we have been seeing his work pop up, from the streets of London to the walls of Palestine. It’s like he is speaking to the universal human experience, reminding us that, despite our borders, despite our differences, we are all in this together. I would consider that some pretty darn impactful artwork. He is not just an artist; he is a provocateur, a philosopher and a voice for the voiceless. In a world full of danger, chaos, war, hate and fear, we could all use a little more Banksy to help us make sense of it all.
Banksy has been an artist since the 1990s, and honestly, every piece makes me think about society and our way of living. I would suggest that you investigate some of his work and see how it makes you feel. If you hate it or if you love it, it will make you see our world through a different lens.
Presley Zimmerman can be reached at [email protected]