Banksy Flower Thrower
Originally from Bristol, England, Banksy is known for his unique and meaningful graffiti . Of all his outdoor works, Flower Thrower is undoubtedly one of the most famous.
There's a good chance you've even seen it on a phone case or printed on a t-shirt. Flower Thrower's originality makes it one of our favorite graffiti pieces.
A true classic of street art, this masterpiece, as poetic as it is political, possesses an effective simplicity and unparalleled power. It depicts a Palestinian man wearing a baseball cap and a bandana to conceal the lower half of his face. Instead of a grenade, as you might expect, the artist adds an inevitable twist: a bouquet of flowers in the thrower's hand.
In the following lines, you will discover:
- The description of Flower Thrower App
- The hidden message behind this graffiti
- Banksy's works in Jerusalem
By the end of this article, you will understand why Banksy's Flower Thrower is now considered a sincere commentary on society.
I) Flower Thrower: a symbol of street art
Flower Thrower or Love Is In The Air first appeared on a wall on the side of a garage. The garage was located on the Beit Sahour highway opposite the Citroën/Peugeot dealership in Jerusalem.
A) The characteristics of Flower Thrower
The man in the artwork Flower Thrower wears a bandana and a baseball cap. Filled with anger, he appears to be throwing flowers at someone.
By examining the drawing closely, we notice 3 striking details: the balaclava, the bouquet of flowers, and the character's posture.
1) The balaclava
The graffiti depicts a man wearing a scarf, not over his head, but over his mouth. This fabric, concealing his identity, is accompanied by a backwards baseball cap. The fact that he hides his face is reminiscent of Banksy's own story , who, like many graffiti artists, is determined to preserve his anonymity at all costs.
It must be acknowledged that the identity of this Briton has generated a lot of discussion! We know he is close to the Bristol music scene, but the allegations that he is a member of Massive Attack have remained just a "rumor".
2) The bouquet of flowers
In Banksy's "Love Is In The Air ," a man throws a bouquet of flowers. However, the position of his body as he leaps resembles that of someone throwing a projectile or a Molotov cocktail. It could even be a stone, like the cobblestones hurled in Paris during the French Revolution.
The man and the bouquet's packaging are in black and white, while the flowers and the visible part of the stems are in color. This is certainly the street artist 's way of saying, "Spread peace, not war." It's a powerful message at a time when so many conflicts are dividing the world.
3) The man's posture
The man's posture on the Flower Thrower also evokes images of demonstrations, particularly those that took place on campuses in the 1960s. Except that the protester is a pacifist. Banksy has a habit of criticizing society, capitalism, and war.
As we will see later, the fact that the artwork is located in Jerusalem is highly symbolic. The area is occupied by the military and weapons. The stencil-like figure, created with spray paint, is life-size, likely intended to stir ideas in the minds of passersby, encouraging them to identify with it.
B) A work that has become a cult classic in the world of graffiti
Love is in the air – also known as the flower thrower – first appeared in 2003. Large-format stencil graffiti in Jerusalem emerged shortly after the construction of theWest Bank wall . This wall, 760 km long, separates Palestine from Israel.
According to Banksy, this construction transforms Palestine into the world's largest "open-air prison ." It has therefore quickly become a giant canvas for paintings and writings protesting its design.
Furthermore, "Rage the Flower Thrower" is one of Banksy's most important and sought-after artworks. Since its creation, it has been reproduced on phone cases, t-shirts, posters, and many other types of merchandise. The drawing even appears on the cover of Banksy's iconic book " Wall and Piece ," published in 2005.
II) Banksy's message through Flower Thrower
It's clear that the man's facial expression and posture in Banksy's mural suggest a violent intent. However, by replacing a rock, a Molotov cocktail, or a bomb with a bouquet, the artist advocates for peace instead of violence. The location itself speaks volumes about the message behind this mural.
A) Banksy's invitation to peace
Many have associated this mural with peaceful protests, but it could also be inspired by the violent unrest in the Middle East. However, given Banksy's pacifist and anti-war stance , several events could have influenced his work.
The Flower Thrower bouquet symbolizes not only peace, but also life and love. These flowers can also be associated with the commemoration of lives lost during the religious conflict of the past. The piece is an excellent example of Banksy's use of art to convey socially important messages.
Likemany of his other works , "Rage, the Flower Thrower" draws inspiration from political and social situations. The artist uses these circumstances not only to gain recognition, but also to disseminate his work and educate the public about what is happening in the world.
B) A cult image repurposed on the Bethlehem wall
Through the message conveyed by Flower Thrower—and other related events—Banksy created a crucial portrait. He effectively united people with diverse opinions due to the many ways this iconic image, altered from the Bethlehem wall, can be interpreted.
Banksy did it, however, in a more controversial way than usual. Many disagree with the idea of pacifism in Jerusalem, where there is a strong military and armed presence.
Nevertheless, this play forces us to ask ourselves why we would do something harmful to our fellow human beings when we could, instead, take far more useful actions. It compels everyone who sees " Love is in the Air " to consider the consequences of their destructive actions.
It is also a genuine opportunity to reflect on what might happen if constructive action were taken instead. "Rage, the Flower Thrower" reframes the approach to dealing with evil, positing that our reactions to violence can sometimes be inspired by good.
III) Jerusalem, a city that Banksy loves
As we saw earlier, Banksy's stencil image is on a wall in Bethlehem in the West Bank. It's a city located south of Jerusalem. Since Israel became a nation, there has been a constant state of unrest and even armed conflict with Palestine.
What better place than Jerusalem could Banksy choose to offer social and political statements? In addition to Flower Thrower, other artworks can be found there such as girl frisking a soldier and Armored Dove .
A) Banksy, girl frisking a soldier
Banksy created "Girl and a Soldier" or "Girl frisking a Soldier" in 2007. It's a stencil image that subverts expectations. It shows a little girl with braids frisking an unarmed soldier.
It is impossible not to realize that the opposite of this image is a more realistic reality in Palestine. The Bristol artist manages to depict a controversial idea—children being persecuted—without showing the image of the young girl.
Furthermore, the image reveals how people dehumanize one another, seeing each other only as threats. What makes this artwork more compelling is that it confronts the audience with a disturbing image of the child as a persecutor.
B) Armored Dove, the work of Banksy
This piece of street art is attributed to Banksy and possibly several other street artists. " Armored Dove" depicts a dove wearing an armored vest and holding a heart-shaped target. The image is an ironic message about peace.
What better way to comment on the instability in the region than to depict the bird of peace in a precarious situation?
As you've probably gathered, Banksy's graffiti is powerful and conveys important messages to the public. The simplicity of the drawing "Rage, the Flower Thrower" also makes it effective, because the message is immediately perceptible.
If you're ever in Jerusalem, seeing Banksy's creations is an experience well worth the trip. If you enjoy Banksy's graffiti, we invite you to check out our selection of the finestreproductions of the Bristol street artist's work.
See you soon.
The Lofty Trend Team.
