Banksy

BANKSY (Bristol, England, 1975).
"Tesco Value Tomato Soup," 2006.
Offset lithograph.
Signed on plate.
Measurements: 84 x 59 cm.

'Tesco Value Tomato Soup' is based on one of the most recognizable and iconic images of the 20th century: the "Campbell's Soup Cans" series by Andy Warhol. By marrying art with commerce, Warhol's images defined a momentous shift in contemporary art, challenging the definition of aesthetics, the role of art and the concepts of originality and reproduction. In replicating these images, Banksy is ironic and aware of both the controversy courted by Warhol over the merit of his art, and the fact that these works helped launch him as one of the important artists of our era. However, while Warhol's soup cans seem devoid of any social commentary, simply documenting the ubiquitous banalities inherent in advertising, Banksy's 'Tesco Value Tomato Soup' is undoubtedly a critique of the excesses of consumerism and the power of corporate giants.

Banksy, the British artist whose identity is still unknown, is considered one of the leading exponents of contemporary Street Art. According to a study by Queen Mary University of London published in March 2016, Robin Gunningham, a resident of Bristol, would be the artist behind the Banksy pseudonym. His works address universal themes such as politics, culture or ethics treated mostly from a satirical and ironic point of view by combining graffiti writing with the use of stencil stencils. This technique is similar to that used by Blek le Rat, who began working with stencils in 1981 in Paris. In fact, Banksy acknowledged Blek's influence by stating that "every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I realize that Blek le Rat did it better, only twenty years earlier."