Blowpop Records
Blowpop Records
Unsigned Spray Paint
Banksy
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30 x 30cm, Edition of 100, Spray Paint
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Meaning & Analysis
Blowpop Records (1999) is a Banksy mixed media multiple, released in an edition of 100. Using acrylic and spray-paint on record sleeve, it depicts a matador with cape. In a classic Banksy twist, instead of a raging bull, the matador faces a car—a showdown of stereotypical symbols of ‘machismo’.
At the top of the composition, Banksy writes ‘Blowpop Records’ in stencil capital letters. This name refers to the Bristol-based music label that the Capoeira Twins were signed to. Banksy produced this image for a limited release of one of the Capoeira Twins’ electronic music records. 100 copies of the record cover designed by Banksy were given to notable DJs all over the UK for free and each cover was hand stencilled by the artist himself.
The artwork captures the essence of Banksy’s wit which shines through in many of his artworks. Merging the matador and motor car in one image, the artist takes two traditional symbols of masculinity and romanticised Spanish ‘machismo’. Throughout his artistic career, Banksy has collaborated with a variety of English artists by designing their album covers, notably Blur’s seventh album, Think Tank.
Renowned British street artist, Banksy, is the enigmatic figure behind some of the most subversive works in the Urban Art scene. Despite his anonymity, the artists' disruptive stunts have not only gained him notoriety, but they have vocalised his stance on many social and political issues. As seen with the likes of Girl With Balloon and Napalm, Banksy uses his distinctive stencil technique to produce thought-provoking commentaries on challenging themes. The showcase of rebellion that lines his work has caused his secondary market value to soar in recent years, propelling him to the top of the Urban Art scene.