Valentine’s Day is a magic time to celebrate love, romance, and relationships. Every couple is waiting for this feast to show their affection and share lovely gifts. Fine art has a lot to say about love—but what about street art? Take, for example, Banksy Valentine art. The street artist often addresses the topic of true love in opposition to fake love and selfish lust. At the same time, some of his works, including “Valentine’s Banksy,” are more or less innocent and prove the point that Banksy is kind of romantic? Is he?
Banksy Valentine art: the street artist on love and lust
What does Banksy tell people about love? Traditionally, most of his murals serve as criticism of the concept of modern love. For instance, “Mobile Lovers” demonstrates the negative power of smartphones and how they ruin people’s personal lives. “Man with Flowers” is also a great example of Banksy Valentine art. It is that man depicted on the Hustler Club in New York. This time, the street artist ironically emphasizes the cost of love in a society driven by money and lust.
Among Banksy’s artworks, there are pieces that are less bitter and hence more conceptually positive. “Kissing Coppers” is considered one of the most iconic Banksy murals. The message of a wall painting is pretty straightforward: everyone deserves love. The collection of Banksy Valentine art wouldn’t be complete without the above-mentioned “Valentine’s Banksy.” Experts still argue about the meaning of the artwork because the message that Banksy left was quite dubious. On the one hand, it was a cupid-like girl “piercing” the heart. On the other hand, some people thought that it was all about the new generation of rebellious children. Opinions are divided.
If you are looking for answers to the question, “What is love?” Banksy street art might be a good start. There is a lot of meaning in his murals.