Painted on a monumental scale, Toxic Mary (double) is a spare yet profoundly evocative work. Against a shimmering gold backdrop, Banksy reimagines the Renaissance Madonna as a mirrored pair of Virgin Marys, each cradling baby Jesus - only here, the infants feed from bright orange hazard bottles beneath rifle sights. A lone star hangs in the heavens while aeroplanes roar below, blending sacred iconography with stark symbols of danger and surveillance.
First revealed in Banksy’s secretive 2003 Turf War exhibition in East London - a show shuttered by police after just two days - Toxic Mary epitomises the artist’s brazen political voice. Using his signature multi-layered stencil technique, developed after a youthful brush with the law, Banksy crafts fiercely crisp lines that convey urgency and rebellion.
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