Heavy Weaponry
Heavy Weaponry
Year: 2002
Medium: Acrylic and spray enamel on canvas
Dimensions: 45.6×53 cm (18 x 20 7/8 inches)
Edition: From a series, unique in this format
Stenciled-signed “BANKSY” lower right
Auction History
Auction House: Christie’s London
Date: 1 July 2008
Price realized: GBP 34,850
Heavy Weaponry depicts a singular elephant made in Banksy’s recognizable stencil style with a rocket strapped to its back, hence the double-entendre in the witty title. The entire composition consists of a minimally depicted animal simply strolling forward, heavy with irony. The artist’s signature is visible in the bottom right-hand corner rendered in light grey stenciled capital letters.
The general message is obviously anti-military, in line with Banksy’s other works using similar imagery. Using the elephant as a symbol resonates with other famous Banksy works featuring various animals that represent ordinary people or the ‘masses’ vis-a-vis the establishment and the military-industrialist complex.
