A wonderful, monochromatic painting of Banksy appeared at the Southampton General Hospital, which paid a rich tribute to the NHS that have been at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus.
The painting shows a young boy wearing dungarees and a T-shirt, kneeling by a wastepaper bin. He has discarded models of Spiderman and Batman in the bin, and is rather playing with his new favorite superhero – an NHS nurse.
The nurse is wearing a mask, a cape that is fluttering behind her, and an apron with the Red Cross emblem on it. This emblem is the only element that has colour in the entire painting. She has her hand outstretched and pointing forward in the same manner as Superman would when he is on a mission.
The piece called ‘Game Changer’ is one square meter and is hung at the hospital in a foyer near the emergency department.
The elusive artist also left a note for hospital workers, saying, “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.”
British artist #Banksy is able to uniquely capture the nation’s mood. Thank you, Banksy, for highlighting the true superheroes of our time—health workers.https://t.co/eAqFzs5ZNe pic.twitter.com/njdOu9VPUy
— Karen Pierce (@KarenPierceUK) May 6, 2020
Paula Head, CEO of the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our hospital family has been directly impacted with the tragic loss of much loved and respected members of staff and friends.
“The fact that Banksy has chosen us to recognise the outstanding contribution everyone in and with the NHS is making, in unprecedented times, is a huge honour.”
She added: “It will be really valued by everyone in the hospital, as people get a moment in their busy lives to pause, reflect and appreciate this piece of art. It will no doubt also be a massive boost to morale for everyone who works and is cared for at our hospital.”
A spokeswoman for Banksy confirmed that the piece will be displayed at the Southampton General Hospital until autumn, post which it will be auctioned to raise money for the NHS.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is an anonymous graffiti and street artist based in England, whose identity remains a closely guarded secret. His art, which is now famous all over the world, has a distinctive style – he uses stencils to create his pieces. Apart from street art, he has also created drawings, paintings, and installation pieces. Conventionally, his art pieces are known to deliver political message with satire.
What do you think about this new artwork by Banksy? Isn’t it beautiful? Unfortunately, we needed a pandemic of this proportion to realize that the real heroes of a nation are its healthcare workers and medical professionals.
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