• BANKSY    editions

  • Christ with Shopping Bags, 2004

    Screen-print on wove paper

    70cm x 50cm

    Edition of 82

    Christ with Shopping Bags, 2004

    Christ with Shopping Bags, 2004, also known as CWSB, is a highly limited print release depicting the crucifixtion of Jesus holding up shopping bags full of gifts. The dripping silhouette of Jesus carries on a motif similar to Toxic Mary, 2003, portraying the decay of a religious figure, and in this partiuclar work drawing a parrallel between the cause of Christ's death and society's relience on commodification. This juxtaposition of sacred and commercial highlights the way modern consumerism has co-opted spiritual occasions, replacing their original meanings with material excess.

     

    By placing these mundane, consumer-driven objects into a deeply religious context, Banksy forces the viewer to confront the stark contrast between spiritual sacrifice and material greed. The artwork critiques the commodification of traditions, suggesting that the true meaning of these events has been overshadowed by a culture that prioritises profit over human connection.

  • "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to"

     

    - Banksy

    Executed in Banksy’s signature stencil style, the stark monochromatic palette is punctuated by the bold, white shopping bags, drawing attention to their absurd prominence in the scene. This deliberate emphasis underscores the theme of consumerisms presence into every aspect of life, even those meant to be free from material concerns. Religious imagery has been used by Banksy in many of his works, giving additional weight to the arguments that his art puts forward.