Street Artist Banksy's "Game Changer" Pays Tribute To COVID-19 Frontline Workers

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Banksy's "Sight Seeing Rats," sketched on the side of a bridge over the Seine River in Paris, celebrates the city's leisurely walkers (Credit: Banksy)

British street artist Banksy is well-known for his controversial and often politically-themed artwork. However, his latest creation can only be described as heartwarming. The mostly black-and-white stenciled sketch, dubbed "Game Changer," features a young boy playing with a British National Health Services (NHS) nurse superhero toy. In the background, Batman and Spiderman action figures lie in a waste bin, indicating that the boy's new superheroes are the "game changers" of today — the millions of COVID-19 medical workers worldwide who are risking their lives daily to keep the rest of us safe.

"I've got a little toddler at home and seeing the little kid playing with the action figures there and with the Batman, Spiderman, and then the nurse flying over - it was just amazing," said Matsikachando Moyo, a nurse at Southampton General Hospital. "It's a beautiful portrait of the NHS staff as heroes, it's lovely, it's amazing."

Unveiled by Southampton General Hospital officials on May 7, 2020, the approximately 10-square- foot (one-square-meter) artwork came with a note from the artist. It read, "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it's only black and white."

Banksy's Game Changer celebrates Britain's brave NHS health workers, who are at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic (Credit: Banksy)

It is unclear why Banksy picked the Southern England hospital or how he delivered the framed masterpiece without getting detected. However, the hospital is thrilled by the unexpected tribute. Paula Head, chief executive of Southampton General's NHS Foundation Trust, said it was "a huge honor" that Banksy had "chosen us to recognize the outstanding contribution."

The officials, who are currently displaying the artwork in the entryway close to the hospital's emergency department, plan to put it up for auction in the fall and donate the proceeds to benefit all NHS workers.

Despite being a household name, especially in England, Banksy's identity is known only to his family and close circle of friends. The elusive artist rose to fame in 1993, when his graffiti art began appearing on trains and walls in Bristol, England. By 2001, the artist's classic blocky spray-painted signature became a familiar sight all across the United Kingdom and then, soon after, worldwide — from Vienna to Paris to San Francisco.

Though Banksy has since moved on to more traditional art forms, such as painting on canvas and conceptual sculpture, the artist refrains from selling his masterpieces at high prices unless the proceeds are for a charitable cause. In October 2018, he demonstrated his contempt for exorbitant art prices by remotely activating the shredder built into the back of his world-famous "Girl with Balloon, painting, shortly after it had sold for a record $1.4 million at a Sotheby's auction.

"Girl with Balloon" is one of Banksy's most recognized paintings (Credit: Banksy)

However, the artist's attempt to destroy the painting, which he renamed "Love is in the Bin," did not dissuade the bidder from purchasing it. According to the auction house, while the anonymous female European collector was initially shocked at seeing her newly-acquired painting being shredded, she later decided that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to "own a piece of art history."

Resources: Theguardian.com, Wikipedia.org, NPR.org

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284 Comments
  • bro_harddab
    bro_harddababout 5 years
    Cool! I actually went to see The Girl With Balloon! Well, before it was shredded...
    • eat_a_brick
      eat_a_brickabout 5 years
      That is really nice of him to dedicate art to the people risking their lives to help and save people. It really is motivational to the workers. Thank you doctors, nurses, scientists, delivery, convenience store workers, grocery store workers and everyone pitching in and staying home! we are in this together! stay home and wash your hands guys!
      • zoom253
        zoom253about 5 years
        nurses and doctors are the real heroes during this time.This is cool
        • lovetoread26
          lovetoread26about 5 years
          Such a nice thing to do! Showing support for the hospitals and front line workers. If you know someone who is a front line worker, be sure to thank them for all they do! Even the small things make a difference. Thank you to everyone saving lives every day!
          • aquamaria
            aquamariaabout 5 years
            I love this.
            • tigersword
              tigerswordabout 5 years
              This is a great way!
              • bookfan2009
                bookfan2009about 5 years
                Really cool!
                • searchlight
                  searchlightabout 5 years
                  cool It's interesting!!
                  • rand
                    randabout 5 years
                    cool
                    • animereina2021
                      animereina2021about 5 years
                      I like what the street artist did! It was so kind! Doctors, you are my super heroes too!😁