The Philosophy Behind Banksy’s Art

Perhaps Banksy’s most publicized moment came in 2019 with the auction of Devolved Parliament. The painting replaces members of the British House of Commons with chimpanzees, making a grotesque spectacle of political dysfunction. Though humorous on the surface, the piece critiques the erosion of rational discourse and the dehumanizing effects of populist politics. The sale of the painting for nearly £10 million underscored the irony of revolutionary art becoming a commodity.