He’s back…
British street-art megastar has resurfaced after over a month of silence, posting a new artwork in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The artwork makes the gorgeous use of light and shade to really communicate the sombre nature of the current climate, with a white flower and two burnt-out candles placed before a dark figure in a picture frame. The artwork also features a lit vigil candle beginning to burn the U.S. flag, no doubt signifying the frail state of the nation.
The artwork was also accompanied by a statement, lending support to African Americans and people of colour, stating “At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue. But why would I do that? It’s not their problem, it’s mine. People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system. Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. The faulty system is making their life a misery, but it’s not their job to fix it. They can’t, no one will let them in the apartment upstairs. This is a white problem. And if white people don’t fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in.”
Banksy has never shied away from speaking on political issues, using his artworks to draw attention to numerous issues such as homelessness in Birmingham, immigration and even the soul-destroying nature of social media.
It’s a haunting artwork to say the least, but puts into words the overall sadness concerning the poor treatment of black people in the U.S. as well as around the world. But these are artworks that need to be seen, and conversations that need to be had. Here’s hoping we see plenty more statements like Banksy’s soon…
