Why is Mosquito important?

Mosquito is a brilliant example of Banksy’s criticism of authority, violence and militarism. The works Applause, Bomb Hugger and Heavy Weaponry condemn militarism and above all the trivialisation of modern warfare and its danger over the populations.

How do I buy Mosquito?

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How can I sell Mosquito?

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Mosquito by Banksy Background & Meaning

Mosquito

Banksy’s Mosquito series from 2003 parodies the Paramount Pictures logo, depicting a mosquito wearing a gas mask at its centre. The work, which was released in a small edition of 25, ironizes Hollywood’s parasitic relationship to real-life violence and conflict, which it depicts with immunity from the real thing.

Meaning & Analysis

Mosquito is a canvas produced in 2003 by British street artist and activist, Banksy. It was released in an edition of 25 by Pictures on Walls - Banksy's original UK print house - and measures 25.4cm by 30.3 cm. Back in 2003, when Mosquito was first released, it sold for £250. In 2002, another version of this work, depicting the mosquito against a mosaic-like montage of Queen Elizabeth II's portrait, clad in the same gas mask, was created with with spray paint and emulsion. Mounted on perforated card, the image featured a stencilled-version of Banksy's trademark 'tag'. This particular image of the Queen was the same Banksy used for his provocative Monkey Queen artwork, executed in 2003.

Banksy's Mosquito is a simple, two-coloured image typical of the artist's stencil-based works. It displays a mosquito styled as a military plane, complete with large wings and a gas mask. Depicted as a flying combatant in action, swooping down to attack an enemy, the mosquito is somewhat ironic: the gas mask covers the insect’s bloodsucking head, preventing it from actually hurting anybody.

The blood-sucking mosquito could be interpreted as a representation of the casualties of war. Yet the generally negative connotations of the mosquito also lend the piece a critical edge - perhaps it alludes to the desperation of soldiers fighting in war, caught in a difficult position somewhere between duty and morality? The central figure of the composition - the mosquito - is placed inside a circular field of 21 red stars, which recall those surrounding the mountain peak in Banksy's Paranoid Pictures image.

Mosquito is a brilliant example of Banksy’s criticism of authority, violence and militarism. The works Applause, Bomb Hugger and Heavy Weaponry condemn militarism and above all the trivialisation of modern warfare and its danger over the populations.
These artworks directly condemn the role of governments and authorities in glorifying and popularising violence, as well as the shady involvement of large, capitalist corporations - sometimes referred to as ‘big money’ - in such military operations. Other Banksy artworks, such as Flying Coppers, Happy Choppers and Have a Nice Day, satirise militarism by juxtaposing innocent and childish motifs - like yellow smiley faces, angel-like wings and pink bows - with military equipment. Animals like the mosquito appear often throughout Banksy’s images, often serving as a rhetorical means to address various social issues. Examples of Banksy's use of animals as conduits for his social critique can be found in the artist's iconic Rat series, Laugh Now or Barcode.
Banksy's series of record album covers, entitled Bad Meaning Good, mock authority by bringing together the machinery of war and a variety of comic elements, such as rabbit ears or childlike bows. Quite unlike many of his works in its overt criticism of militarism, Banksy's screenprint CND Soldiers explicitly condemns warfare and weaponry, acting as a call for peace.
If you're looking to sell art by Banksy, click the link and we can help. We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the work in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge.