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Banksy, Radar Rat, 2003.
Spray-paint on cupboard door, 57 × 25.8 cm.
© Banksy. -
ORIGINS OF THE MOTIF
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"They exist without permission.They are hated, hunted, and persecuted..."
- Banksy
The rat first emerged as a central motif in Banksy’s work during the late 1990s, drawing inspiration from French street artist Blek le Rat, who was known for stencilling large rodents across Paris. Banksy adapted the idea, making the rat his own by embedding it with sharper political and cultural meaning. To him, rats symbolise resilience, rebellion and survival in hostile environments, thriving without permission in the cracks of society. This made them the perfect metaphor for street art itself, which operates outside institutional approval and often in defiance of authority. From these early appearances on the streets of Bristol, the rat quickly evolved into one of Banksy’s most recognisable and enduring symbols, carrying his messages of dissent to walls and public spaces across the globe. -
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Love Rat, 2004
© Banksy. -
Because I'm Worthless, 2004
© Banksy. -
Rat with Umbrella, 2004
© Banksy. -
Bronze Rat, 2006
© Banksy. -
Roadwork Rat, 2006
© Banksy. -
Rat with Roller on Spot Painting, 2009
© Banksy. -
If Graffiti Changed Anything It Would Be Illegal, 2011
© Banksy. -
If You Don't Mask, You Don't Get, 2020
© Banksy.
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POLITICAL COMMENTARY
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Banksy, Our Time Will Come, 2004.Natural History Museum, London, April 2004.© Banksy.