09.12.20 - ADDITIONAL RESEARCH - Conflict and Remembrance

Banksy's work has always been a commentary on the human condition, with many references to war and rebellion throughout. In the book 'Wall and Piece', BBC News's John Simpson explains events that took place around the world, giving context to Banksy's famous street art.

Banksy uses visual paradoxes to communicate his messages about war and peace - harnessing both concepts in the same image. In this example, a rioter is throwing a bouquet of flowers and our preconceptions about the man are subverted as we would expect him to be holding a petrol bomb or other makeshift weapon to throw at the opposition because we see this so often in the media. The flowers are painted in vivid colour to make them the focal point and suggest strength against the otherwise monochromatic colour palette. For me, the black and white represents the past and suggests the futility of war and conflict, while the colourful blooms are optimistic and promote the idea of spreading love as opposed to hate.

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