Banksy's Security Protected

Banksy's Security Protected is an allegory of resistance in its depiction of a rebellious act. The rat, often seen as the scourge of cities, becomes a mirror reflecting our own societal insecurities and the measures we take to counteract them. The animal's decision to dismantle the phrase 'SECURITY PROTECTED' is symbolic of the artist's scrutiny of the pervasive surveillance culture that has become commonplace. The artwork's medium – enamel and paper collage on a found card – is a commentary on the reclaiming of urban spaces. The materials themselves are repurposed, much like the public walls Banksy employs for his canvases. This medium transcends the traditional confines of gallery art, asserting that message and medium are inextricably linked in the realm of street art.

Furthermore, Banksy’s deliberate placement of the rat within the artwork – small, yet undeniably focal – captures the duality of the creature’s existence. On one hand, the rat is diminutive and seemingly insignificant; on the other, it is a figure of untamed cunning and survival. This duality echoes the public’s sentiment towards the street artist himself: often underappreciated by authorities yet celebrated by admirers of his art and his audacity. The work also subtly engages with the aesthetic principles of minimalism, as the stark white space surrounding the rat and the inscription amplifies the visual impact of the elements present. The red of the inscription is arresting, a signal that commands attention amidst the purity of the background, signifying danger, power, and control. The rat, depicted in black, is almost a shadow – a spectre that, despite its size, possesses the power to dismantle. Banksy’s choice of the rat as the disruptor is particularly poignant given the societal perception of rodents as pests. By positioning the rat as the protagonist in Security Protected, Banksy flips the script, suggesting that those deemed insignificant or unworthy by societal standards are capable of enacting significant change.

The year of creation, 2004, is also significant. It was a time of heightened global tensions and an increasing awareness of the importance of privacy in the face of surveillance. In this light, the artwork becomes a snapshot of the collective consciousness of the early 21st century.

In the world of Banksy, rats are a profound source of inspiration and a prolific subject within his portfolio. The rat is ingeniously transformed from a pest into an allegorical figure that reveals the vices and hypocrisies of humanity. Through these creatures, Banksy crafts a narrative for the unseen, the forgotten and those deemed "lesser than" by society. The artist himself reflected on the accidental cleverness of the rat as an anagram of art, a serendipitous coincidence that added depth to his use of the image as the fortuitous play on words aligns so perfectly with his artistic vision. Banksy's affinity for rats is reminiscent of the French stencil artist Blek le Rat, the pioneering figure in bringing urban art to the streets of France in the 1980s. Just as Blek le Rat saw the free spirit of the rat as a symbol worth spreading across the city, Banksy also personifies these animals, placing them in scenarios that serve as satirical comments on human folly.

Throughout his oeuvre, the rat is also seen as a representation of Banksy himself. Like the rats he paints, Banksy operates under the cloak of night, his identity and art existing on the fringes of legality. Both are often perceived as nuisances by the establishment – or Banksy at least used to be – yet both possess an undeniable impact on their environments. Banksy aligns himself with the rat, the ultimate underdog. By giving a voice to these animals, he also speaks for the oppressed, for those ground down by the relentless gears of capitalism and the 'rat race' that consumes so much of modern life.

In his book Wall and Piece, Banksy showcases over 30 representations of rats, underlining their prominence in his work. While murals featuring rats are primarily scattered across England—often discreet in size—the artist has also produced a notable series of prints in 2004 that spotlight various iconic rat characters, including Security Protected. This is a celebration of the underdog’s potential to challenge and subvert, to question and redefine.