Banksy’s Bomb Middle England is an early stencil artwork created in 2003 as an edition of 500 screen prints. At least 50 were signed, but these are rare and hard to find. A unique urban street art version of the image, which was created with spray paint and acrylic paint on plywood, was auctioned in 2007 at Sotheby’s for the price of £102,000. This was, at the time, one of the highest price record set for an artwork by Banksy. Bomb Middle England is a classic example of a popular Banksy target: the bourgeoisie.
Bomb Middle England depicts three middle-aged ladies enjoying a game of pétanque, which is a traditional afternoon entertainment activity for the older middle class. The lawn game is similar to playing Bocce Ball. Two slick horizontal planes of green represent the well-manicured grass and the hedge in their environment. The composition is divided sharply between its subjects, which feature the women on the far left and their pétanque balls bouncing down the lawn on the far right. Banksy has replaced the traditional metal balls with round black fuse bombs, which are ominously lit.
Banksy has picked his side by signing under the bombs. Bomb Middle England is a critique on the predictable structure and mild ennui that seems to define — or threaten — English middle class culture.
If you would like to sell your Banksy art, Bomb Middle England is an early commentary on the upperclass. If you would like to buy Banksy’s Bomb Middle England, it is a classic and valuable example of one of Banksy’s clever and satiric sensibilities at an early juncture in his career. Hexagon Gallery is the leader for Banksy art sales in the United States. To sell or buy Banksy art, please contact info@hexagongallery.com.
