Heavy Weaponry print with POW printmaker dry embossed backstamp with the edition number 16/150 on it. In the left corner the dry embossed heavy weaponry backstamp.
Banksy’s Heavy Weaponry is an early example of the stencil style that the artist would later become known for. Both in execution and theme the work fits into the wider Banksy narrative of witty juxtaposition. This painting is from 2003 depicting a single elephant marching across the canvas carrying an ICBM missile on its back as it heads towards its unknown destination, perhaps unaware of the danger that it poses. Carrying a weapon of mass-destruction, the animal appears subjugated and resigned to its fate. Fitting into Banky’s wider anti-war message, the work is an example of the artist’s protest against war. The double-meaning behind the title of the artwork is typical of Banksy and illustrates that his combination of visual and linguistic puns began from early on in his career, serving to convey both a sense of humour and a jolting reminder of the state of our modern world. The motif of Heavy Weaponry has become a classic image of the artist and was adopted as a blind stamp for many of his prints, as well as his certificates of authenticity issued by his Pest Control
