Banksy

Artist: Banksy
Title: Sirens of the Lambs
Medium: "Moving sculpture" including meat truck, driver, 60 stuffed animal puppets (as well as their four puppeteers), and an audio guide accessed through an 800 number printed on the truck
Size: Unknown* ("moving sculpture")
Date: 2013

About the Artist: Banksy is a well-known street artist, although his identity remains unknown. He is believed to have been born in 1974 in Bristol, England. He began his career as a graffiti artist in the early 1990s, in Bristol's graffiti gang DryBreadZ Crew, and gained recongnition for his provocative stenciled pieces in the late 1990s. His siignature style often engages political themes, satirically critiquing war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. Banksy's worldwide fame has transformed his artwork from acts of vandalism to sought-after high art pieces.

Artist Statement: "Audio on the [Banksy] site says this is either a statement on the "casual cruelty" of the meat industry or "something vague and pretentious" about losing childhood innocence. In keeping with that theme, the video ends with a displeased child sobbing in a stroller." - Amy Hubbard of the LA Times

About the Work, etc.: It is rumored that Banksy used to work in a butcher shop, which may be the inspiration behind this, as well as other artworks of his. This piece undeniably calls out factory farming and animal cruelty, whether or not there is another meaning behind it. The fact that stuffed animals are used here draws attention to the fact that the real animals that could be in their place are on the way to their deaths and reminds us that we rarely take into consideration the lives of the animals. It shows us how we treat animals- as food or as cute, cuddly pets, but never in the respect that they deserve to be treated.


*I know size is a requirement, but I hope an exception can be made in such a case as this, since video is allowed.