The Philosophy Behind Banksy’s Art

This interplay between illusion and reality continues in Girl with Balloon (2002), arguably one of Banksy’s most iconic images. A young girl reaches toward a red, heart-shaped balloon drifting away. The image captures a moment of loss, longing, and unreachable hope. Philosophically, it mirrors Arthur Schopenhauer’s notion of the endless striving inherent in human life. According to Schopenhauer, desire is a fundamental part of the human condition, but it is also a trap—no satisfaction is permanent, and each fulfilled wish only gives birth to another.