Applause
Banksy's Applause (2006) is a biting critique of the media-driven public approval given to western leaders who engage in war. The prints depict a fighter jet preparing for take-off, with two air traffic controllers holding comedy-show style signs. The background photograph is from a well-known collection featuring President George W. Bush deploying a military bomber.
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Meaning & Analysis
Part of his 2006 Barely Legal portfolio, Banksy’s Applause is a prime example of the artist’s satirical criticism of western warfare.
Alongside Grannies, Morons, Trolleys, Sale Ends and Festival, which measure approximately 76 cm x 57 cm, Applause measures a much larger 114 cm x 76 cm. It is also by far the most detailed work of these editions, resembling a sketch as opposed to the usual Banksy print or graffitied stencil art.
The print depicts a fighter jet on the runway of a huge aircraft carrier and is based on a well-known image of former American President George W. Bush deploying a military bomber. Next to the jet are two air traffic controllers wearing high-vis jackets and preparing the fighter jet for take-off. One of the controllers is holding a sign on which is written the word APPLAUSE in capital letters, like those employed in comedy theatres to ask the audience to cheer on cue.
The artwork is monochromatic, except for the yellow of the controllers’ vests and the red sign, and highlights the trivialisation of serious issues such as military power and misuse. The artist signifies his disapproval of a world in which images of aggression are communicated 24 hours a day, through television or social media, and of a world where political conflicts have become a form of amusement, leading to the public becoming desensitised to the true nature of violence.
10 Facts About Banksy's Applause
