Banksy IO Style Summative

Valentina Prados Spitaleri

Ms. Crook

IB English Lang & Lit

17th Feb. 2020

“We can’t just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow.” Environmental activist, Greta Thunberg, began campaigning for the world to address the climate crisis when she was only fifteen. Two years later, she continues to fight for this “tomorrow”.  Anti-establishment street artist, Banksy, fights for this as well. Through his use of text, colour, and symbolic imagery, his pieces From This Moment (2019), I Don’t Believe (2009), No Future (2010) and Season’s Greetings (2018),  demonstrate how the government’s neglect of environmental issues has negatively impacted the youth, consequently forcing them to take initiative against these problems themselves. 

Banksy uses text to establish how only recently society has had a more conservationist outlook, taking steps to ensure environmental sustainability. In his piece, From This Moment Despair Ends and Tactics Begin, this phrase is placed right next to a little girl. The words  “This moment” indicate that action was not previously being taken and is only now beginning to blossom and move away from the ‘despair’, which leaves the viewer hopeful for the future. Banksy elucidates this idea in another piece: I Don’t Believe in Global Warming. Although the text is the only obvious element to the piece, upon looking further irony is evident, consequently causing wry humour within the viewer. Part of the text is obscured by murky water. It is covered and not just raised above sea level, showing that previously the water was not that high. Banksy juxtaposes the text and location as even though it says that he does not believe in global warming, the rising water level —caused by the ice caps melting— ridicule this notion. This humour indicates Banksy’s reference to the government’s neglect of global warming and lack of an action plan against it. In both pieces, Banksy’s use of text highlights how previously, people were not striving to make a change to become more environmentally sustainable and this has only begun to happen recently.

Through his use of symbolism, Banksy illustrates how it has fallen onto the hands of the youth to make a change. In From This Moment, Banksy highlights how today’s youth is responsible for the environmental reform that is slowly progressing. The little girl holds a plant label with the Extinction Rebellion symbol, a movement peacefully protesting for government action to be taken against global warming. The symbol and child evoke hope from the viewer as they want to see a future for her. In eliciting hope, Banksy illustrates how the little girl is symbolic of today’s youth and their fight for the earth’s future. Banksy employs symbolia in another of his pieces, No Future. Much like in From This Moment, and many of his other pieces, Banksy features a distraught little girl. Above her, read the words No Future. However, the O has been spray-painted as a balloon, whose string rests in the girl’s clenched fist. Once again, Banksy manipulates irony, as the bleakness in the lack of a future is juxtaposed by the playful imagery of the balloon which saddens the viewer. Banksy distracts from the lack of future by tagging a balloon, just like the government has not  focused on the lack of environmental stability and instead, other endeavours like politics which ultimately pale in comparison. Through both pieces, Banksy demonstrates how due to the government’s lack of responsibility towards the environment, the current generation has been prematurely exposed to the dire situation, and realized that there will not be a future without change. 

Banksy’s pieces do not solely exhibit the climate situation in a devastating light. In his piece, From This Moment, Banksy utilizes colour and symbolism to convey how the youth is ensuring a future for the earth. A small sapling grows from the earth right next to a shovel across the little girl, indicating that she planted it. The sapling instills hope within the viewer for a greener future and this is supported by the blue glow that surrounds it which emulates a sunrise— a new dawn for the earth. Hope is created as the viewer is exposed to the actions that the youth is taking and “tactics” they are employing to secure a sustainable future for the earth. In his piece Seasonal Greetings, Banksy uses a similar melancholy yet hopeful message. Yet again, the viewer witnesses another child, this one catching snowflakes in his mouth. However, when the viewer sees the source of the “snow”, they are left horrified by the piece— the snow is actually ashes originating from a dumpster fire. However, this piece inspires hope from the viewer after further inspection. The fire represents all the damage that has been done to the earth, and the snow connected to it represents how today’s youth is trying to stop global warming and environmental issues— turning ashes to snow. It is evident that the child is breathing in snow and not ashes through his upturned arms and facial expression. His open mouth and facial expression convey that he is not breathing in smoke, this would cause him to have an expression of discomfort and yet the child’s open mouth forms a faint smile.  Through these pieces, Banksy inspires hope from the viewer at the youth’s capability to improve the earth, however, mere children alone cannot stop global warming. Banksy showcases how the government’s neglect towards environmental issues have led the youth to take action and make a change, but this is not enough for true change to occur. Everyone must take action.

Through his use of colour, symbolism and text in his street art, Banksy evokes horror, hope, sadness and humour within the viewer. In doing so, Banksy demonstrates how the government’s lack of concern for the environment has driven today’s generation to strive for change. Greta Thunberg is one of many pushing for reformation, however this isn’t enough. Banksy makes the viewers realize that it cannot be just the youth that is trying to make a change, the entire world needs to do so.

Works Cited

Banksy. “From This Moment Despair Ends and Tactics Begin.” BBC, 26 Apr. 2019, bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-48064132.

Banksy. I Don’t Believe In Global Warming. 2009. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, thebulletin.org/2018/11/thanksgiving-advice-how-to-deal-with-climate-change-denying-uncle-pete/.

Banksy. No Future. 2010. Blue Horizon Prints, http://www.bluehorizonprints.com.au/?attachment_id=235369. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

Banksy. Season’s Greetings. 2018. Lifegate, http://www.lifegate.com/people/news/port-talbot-banksy-seasons-greetings. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.