‘It takes a lot of guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy
and call for things no one else believes in like peace and justice and freedom.’
Bomb Love is pure Banksy: provocative, bitingly satirical, and yet tender… Always a strong opponent of mass media and casual consumerism, the senses that today’s youth are being sold aggression instead of innocence, war instead of play literally explodes from this print in a flash of bubble-gum bring pink.
Bomb Love, also known as Bomb Hugger, portrays a young girl hugging a bomb as if it were a cuddly toy. This striking stencil contrasts the innocence and purity of the smiling girl with the violence and destruction bombs create. This image also provokes anxiety as this deadly weapon she is holding might explode at any minute. This work illustrates modern society’s affection for warfare, encouraging large corporations to manufacture and sell bombs by the millions as if they were toys. Bomb Love is also a clear salute to the power of love, that can prevail over war and violence – perhaps this little girl could disarm a bomb through her loving embrace.
This young girl shows no fear; in fact, her face and smile clearly demonstrate she is very comfortable hugging the bomb. Bomb Love highlights our society’s indifference and numbness to warfare, as countless bombs and weapons are manufactured everyday and either stored or sold to oppressive regimes – often under the pretense that weapons are necessary to maintain peace in the world. It also highlights the trivialization of warfare, presented as a harmless game without any consequence, just like playing with a toy.
Banksy realized a few originals based on this iconic stencil. It was first shown at Existencilism, Banksy’s first exhibit in Los Angeles in 2002.
25.4 x 20.3 cm (10×8 inches)
Bonhams London, 21 October 2021
GBP 562,750 / USD 773,874
DESCRIPTION
Bomb Love, Bomb Hugger
Year: 2003
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 70×50 cm (27 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Editions
Signature and Numbering
AUCTION RESULTS
Updated as of 30 June 2022
1. Bomb Love (unsigned)
GBP 35,280 / USD 44,453
GBP 35,280 / USD 46,570
2. Bomb Love (signed)
GBP 93,750 / USD 130,313
