The Philosophy Behind Banksy’s Art

Another of Banksy's key themes is the tension between violence and beauty. In Love is in the Air (2003), a protester in riot gear throws not a Molotov cocktail but a bouquet of flowers. The contrast is jarring and poetic. This visual paradox recalls Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance, but it also hints at a deeper message: beauty can be a weapon, and peace can be militant. The protester’s aggressive posture contrasts with the fragility of the flowers, encapsulating the moral ambiguity of revolutionary action.