Bomb Love

Bomb Love is a bold and daring print, depicting a ponytailed young girl hugging a bomb as if it were a toy. It’s among Banksy’s most sought-after prints on the market for both signed and unsigned editions. The symbolism of this print strikes as particularly shocking - the bomb, akin to that which one would see dropped from a bomber on 24 hour news coverage, evokes an imposing and sinister effect as it is hugged to the young girl's chest. The background colour is a bright, fluorescent pink, adding to the childlike innocence of the image and enhances the uncanny juxtaposition between form and image, while serving to accentuate the figure in the foreground.

This artwork contains Banksy’s commentary on modern society’s affection for warfare, with bombs that are manufactured by some of our largest employers in the UK and sold by the millions like toys. Banksy is posing a decisive challenge to the press and politicians through this artwork, who portray warfare as an essential part of "democracy", attempting to justify its worthiness as a course of action to promote (or export) freedom, and peace. A more positive interpretation could be that Banksy is suggesting that the forces of love and peace can overcome the forces of violence. The artist could be formulating the hope that perhaps through the innocence of children we may one day achieve peace, akin to the themes we see in Girl With Balloon.