Love Is In The Air (Flower Thrower)
Love Is In The Air (Flower Thrower)
Signed Mixed Media
Banksy
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89 x 89cm, Edition of 15, Mixed Media
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Meaning & Analysis
Banksy's iconic Love Is In The Air image depicts a balaclava-wearing man holding a bouquet of flowers instead of a bomb. This artwork is from a signed edition of 15 mixed media—spray-paint on canvas—works, released in 2006. Originally a mural on the West Bank Wall, it symbolizes Banksy’s anti-war beliefs and a plea for peace.
The man is rendered using spray paint and a stencil in black and white. Captured in motion, the man appears to be throwing a bouquet of flowers at someone or something outside of the composition. Banksy uses coloured spray paint to depict the flower stems protruding from the bouquet. This hint of colour contrasts with the black and white which dominates the rest of the image.
The image resonates strongly with images of campus and street riots from the 1960s. While the viewer cannot see the man’s face, he seems frustrated or angry given his aggressive stance and tense posture. The way in which the man is caught throwing the bouquet resembles images of people throwing rocks or molotov cocktails during riots.
Banksy’s artworks are often steeped in anti-establishment values and this image has been interpreted as the man bombing the establishment with flowers. As the flowers are rendered in colour, there is a hint of optimism within this artwork as it suggests there is hope for a peaceful resolution to conflict.
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.
