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Catalogue Essay
It is undeniable that Bristol-born street artist Banksy has achieved legendary status as a global art world phenomenon far preceding his anonymous identity. From his oeuvre, CND Soldiers ranks amongst his most iconic images, featuring the striking depiction of two stencil-sprayed soldiers crouched on the ground, warily surveying the space around them. Situated above in dripping crimson red is a bold peace sign shape, which provides a satirical juxtaposition to the gunmen and allusions to violence beneath. This is made all the more powerful when it is recognised that the figure on the right actually holds a paintbrush in place of a weapon, insinuating that it is he who has marked this bold symbol of peace.
CND Soldiers is widely considered as Banksy’s most notorious anti-war work, distinctively showcasing the artist’s dark humour and anti-establishment wit. The image first cropped up directly across from the Houses of Parliament in London in 2003, only later to be removed by authorities. It appeared in participation with British peace campaigner Brian Haw’s long-standing protest against the United Kingdom’s involvement in Iraq – a campaign of remarkable determination supported by millions.
The original installation of Banksy’s stencil painting, across from the British Parliament in London, Image Courtesy of AOTS Alluding to the present work’s title, a vibrant red symbol contrasts the monochromatic background and figures. Initially designed as the logo for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), it has since become the international symbol for peace. In CND Soldiers, Banksy’s inclusion of the sign in dripping red overtly evokes the bloodshed of war, drawing a direct link to the officers beneath. But whilst one of the army men is on the lookout, rifle defensibly poised at the ready, the other dons a suspicious look on his face and holds a paintbrush in hand. In presenting the soldiers as activists and vandals graffitiing the wall in protest, Banksy introduces an ironic juxtaposition to question the role played by governments in their peacekeeping missions. Indeed, as one of his best-known images, CND Soldiers is a striking example of Banksy’s ability to deliver powerful messages of social importance and hope that are universally understood.
“All graffiti is low-level dissent, but stencils have an extra history. They've been used to start revolutions and to stop wars.” —— Banksy
As a seemingly unstoppable cultural force, works by Banksy can be found in prestigious public collections including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and his graffiti, performances, and covert incursions have garnered him a devoted global following – including more than 10 million followers who watch his every move on Instagram. Celebrated across the world for his unique aesthetic, Banksy is now placed at the forefront of an artistic movement that has inspired generations to come as he continues to redefine to many what ‘art’ is.
Provenance
Private Collection, The Netherlands
Phillips, Taipei, 24 March 2019, lot 21
Acquired at the above sale by the present ownerExhibited
London, HOFA Gallery, Catch Me If You Can, 8 -15 October 2020 (another example exhibited)
Artist Biography
Banksy
British • 1975 - N/A
Anonymous street artist Banksy first turned to graffiti as a miserable fourteen year old disillusioned with school. Inspired by the thriving graffiti community in his home city, Bristol, Banksy's works began appearing on trains and walls in 1993, and by 2001 his blocky, spray-painted works had cropped up all over the United Kingdom. Typically crafting his images with spray paint and cardboard stencils, Banksy is able to achieve a meticulous level of detail. His aesthetic is clean and instantly readable due to his knack for reducing complex political and social statements to simple visual elements.
His graffiti, paintings and screenprints use whimsy and humour to satirically critique war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed — with not even the Royal family safe from his anti-establishment wit.
19
CND Soldiers
numbered '189/350' with the publisher's blindstamp lower left
screenprint in colours on paper
sheet 69.8 x 49.5 cm. (27 1/2 x 19 1/2 in.)
frame 101 x 78.8 cm. (39 3/4 x 31 in.)
Published by Pictures on Walls, London in 2005, this work is number 189 from an edition of 350 (there was also a signed edition of 350), and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Pest Control.
Estimate
HK$150,000 - 250,000
€16,300-27,200
$19,200-32,100
Sold for HK$378,000
Hin Hin Wong
Associate Specialist, 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2013
hinhinwong@phillips.com
24/7: Online Auction
Online Auction 21 - 30 July 2021
1
Yukimasa Ida
End of today - 12/12 2018 Self Portrait -
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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2
Joan Cornellà
Untitled #1
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$1,008,000
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3
Matías Sánchez
Parodia
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$201,600
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4
Edgar Plans
Hero or Villain
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$1,071,000
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5
Maria Farrar
Brioche con Gelato
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$327,600
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6
This lot is no longer available.
7
Okokume
Cosmic Girl Head
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$403,200
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8
Todd James
Chicken Fingers
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$138,600
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9
Mr.
Happy
Estimate HK$320,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$403,200
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10
Chen Yingjie
Gravity LXX
Estimate HK$75,000 - 110,000
Sold for HK$163,800
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11
Yue Minjun
Untitled (Smile-ism No. 1-28)
Estimate HK$400,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$567,000
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12
Liu Wei
Landscape No. 2
Estimate HK$600,000 - 800,000
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13
Javier Calleja
Prefacio
Estimate HK$300,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$604,800
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14
Javier Calleja
Indice
Estimate HK$300,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$441,000
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15
Javier Calleja
Hi
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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16
Jonas Wood
Dad's Study 2
Estimate HK$280,000 - 350,000
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17
KAWS
SEEING
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
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18
Takashi Murakami & Virgil Abloh
Flower Belt
Estimate HK$350,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$1,008,000
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19
Banksy
CND Soldiers
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$378,000
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20
Kenny Scharf
Krazy
Estimate HK$200,000 - 400,000
Sold for HK$693,000
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21
Invader
TK-64
Estimate HK$220,000 - 320,000
Sold for HK$819,000
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22
This lot is no longer available.
23
KAWS
PIRANHAS WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$277,200
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24
MADSAKI
Homage to Takashi Murakami Flowers
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$630,000
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25
Mr Doodle
Schoolyard Scrap
Estimate HK$100,000 - 200,000
Sold for HK$302,400
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26
Chiharu Shiota
State of Being (Children's Shoes)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$504,000
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27
Kohei Nawa
PixCell-Maria #16
Estimate HK$380,000 - 550,000
Sold for HK$504,000
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28
Damien Hirst
Mickey (Blue Glitter)
Estimate HK$250,000 - 450,000
Sold for HK$315,000
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29
KAWS
ANKLE BRACELET
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$277,200
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30
Ayako Rokkaku
Hayaumare March
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$163,800
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31
Xu Qu
Currency War - Morocco 20 (Old)
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$138,600
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32
Zhao Zhao
Sky No. 13
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$214,200
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33
Ayako Rokkaku
"Magic Hand" Exhibition Carpet
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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34
Gerhard Richter
Cage (P19-2)
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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35
Gerhard Richter
Cage (P19-5)
Estimate HK$80,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$176,400
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36
Yoshitomo Nara
Mori Girl
Estimate HK$60,000 - 80,000
Sold for HK$378,000
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