On December 16, the British street artist Banksy, posted a work on his Instagram account that sent everyone into a speculation storm about what it meant. The work features a Madonna and Child motif, painted on a metal panel in an undisclosed location. The woman’s breast has a rusty hole for a nipple, and the infant stares mournfully into her eyes.
The Instagram post, which also had no caption, was made around 2 PM UK time, adding to the intrigue of the work. Its location remains unknown.
Unsurprisingly, the cryptic artwork has led to a deluge of interpretations on the internet. Many commenters say the image embodies the suffering inflicted by the current Israel-Hamas conflict. One user made the connection with a comment: “[Banksy] gave a visit to Gaza and the West Bank, plus Jesus [sic] birthday is coming up. It never hurts to remind people how Palestinian mothers are killed and starved, coming from Bethlehem.”
Others, however, provided alternative interpretations. Some theorized that the rusty wound could represent a critique of modern societal issues, like the effects of chemicals that we eat, or a careless lifestyle of a mother affecting a baby’s health.
The picture is Banksy’s first post on Instagram since August, when he posted about a series of nine animal-themed murals he had painted around London featuring elephants, monkeys, wolves and other creatures. Even though there was intense speculation about their meaning, the artist shrugged off the series as lighthearted and not meant to be taken seriously.
It is not the first time Banksy has addressed the Virgin and Child theme in his work. His 2003 work Toxic Mary showed the Madonna nursing a baby with a bottle decorated with a skull and crossbones, a quintessential example of his critique of societal and religious conventions.
The fresh piece has rekindled debates about Banksy’s elusive demeanor and the way the artist, one of the most widely recognised creators of our time, has interacted with the world around him, reminding his local, national and international audience all who half-aware of him.
Feature image via Instagram
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