Happy Choppers
Happy Choppers
Unsigned Print
Banksy
£16,000-£24,000Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
$30,000-$45,000 Value Indicator
¥160,000-¥230,000 Value Indicator
€19,000-€28,000 Value Indicator
$170,000-$260,000 Value Indicator
¥3,180,000-¥4,770,000 Value Indicator
$22,000-$35,000 Value Indicator
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70 x 50cm, Edition of 600, Screenprint
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 600
Year: 2003
Size: H 70cm x W 50cm
Signed: No
Format: Unsigned Print
Last Auction: Phillips New York - United States
Value Trend:
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
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Meaning & Analysis
First seen as a street artwork in London in 2002, Banksy's Happy Choppers prints as an unsigned edition of 600 screen-prints in 2003. Adorning military-grade helicopters with pink bows, Banksy draws attention to the crisis of civilians, especially children, under attack, in a typically sardonic and anti-war tinged sentiment.
The overt and sarcastic criticism of warfare and military activity is something we have come to expect from Banksy artwork, such as powerful works like Love is in the Air (Flower Thrower) This artwork depicts a hailstorm of gunships, possibly Apaches, approaching over the horizon. A bright blue sky behind them, and fluffy cartoonish clouds belies the oncoming danger. The helicopters are incredibly detailed, with particularly accurate recreation of the rotor blades and landing gear - which serves to accentuate the peril evoked by the artwork. One helicopter is wrapped in a cutesy baby pink ribbon, as though it were a gift, which could be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek nudge at politicians’ rhetoric who preach that when they export their democracy, they consider it a gift to the citizens whose lives they are about to turn upside down through violent conflict. Some commentary framed Happy Choppers as making light of war, however it is unlike Banksy to be so blasé about the loss and destruction associated with military activity and intervention, which is an issue he has advocated against throughout his artistic oeuvre.
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.
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