Christ With Shopping Bags Banksy

Banksy, Christ With Shopping Bags, signed screenprint of 82, 2004

Christ with Shopping Bags is a screenprint edition of 82, printed on wove paper in 2004; this piece was never released as an unsigned edition. As such, it is highly sought after. Christ with Shopping Bags is an iconic image, and a controversial one. It shows a crucified image of Jesus Christ, entirely in black and white except for the fluorescent pink which drips from his hands, reminiscent of blood. In his outstetche arms, Christ holds a range of shopping bags, also dripping with 'blood'.  This signed Banksy print is varied in its commentary and issues it attempts to addres. From the very obvious statement around the shows the superficiality and hypocrisy of the modern celebration of Christmas through to a deeper, more emotive connoations around the way society is so driven by materialism, consumerism and capitalism. How one might sacrifice themselves (their wellbeing, their finances or their sanity) to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't know. It is also just possible to make out a Mickey Mouse toy and the stereptypical festive candy canes, which perhaps give us an indication as to who Banksy believes is responsible for our lust for material items.