BANKSY, ARE YOU USING THAT CHAIR?, OIL ON CANVAS, 2005
A humorous reference to Edward Hopper’s famous painting The Nighthawks, this oil painting by Banksy is highly desirable and dates back to 2005. It the setting of the deserted urban bar or cafeteria known from Hopper’s image in the artist’s social realist style, and adds a chubby figure in Union Jack swimming trunks or underwear with two plastic chairs laying around him on the ground as he points angrily at the cracked window of the establishment, which he presumably tried to break with one of the chairs. This figure potentially represents the angry British working class - one of Banksy’s most visited subjects - demanding a seat at the elite’s table.
Banksy often borrows images from other famous artists, such as Andy Warhol with his series of Tesco’s Tomato Soup Cans and Keith Haring’s iconic dog in the Choose Your Weapon prints.
ABOUT BANKSY
Banksy is undoubtedly the world’s most sought-after and talked about street artist, his work represents his political and social commentary on the world, and has appeared on city walls throughout it – from London to New York, from Jamaica to the Gaza Strip.
Banksy is not only known for his high profile murals, he has been releasing limited edition prints for many years, produced in various formats, including signed and unsigned works, as well as artist proofs and gift prints. However, only a very select number of people know exactly what the elusive street artist creates and how many he releases. Some editions, for example, are only made available to VIPs, collectors and friends of Banksy’s who are part of the much-coveted inner circle. This has only made the demand for his limited edition silkscreen prints and artists proofs in circulation, grow in popularity year on year. Learn more about street artist Banksy.
