“Love is In the Air” 

This street art painting, “Love is in the Air”, also known as “Flower Thrower” or “LIITA”, by Banksy is representative of the absurdity of war. This painting was found in 2003 in Jerusalem, within the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It is presumed that this painting was a commentary on the social and political unrest of the region. The subject is shown ready to throw a bouquet while dressed as a protester, aiming it at the West Bank Wall. Amongst war, unrest, and protests, Banksy made sure that there was a little love left within the city. Overall, the piece is very anti-war and a call for peace of sorts. 

This painting in particular is one of the most well-known and sought-after pieces that Banksy had created. And a significant part of Banksy’s appeal was the subtle and nonviolent political activism. Modernly, Banksy’s name is almost synonymous with street art due to the popularity of his pieces and the anonymity of the artist himself. His materials were rather frugal, which some believe is a form of commentary on consumerism. Some of the paintings, though usually having a message of peace, were incredibly frowned upon due to the issues being called out, the locations (usually seen as vandalism), and the far reach from what was considered “art” at the time. By the mid-2000’s Banksy was a well-known name with paintings popping up all over the world, including Los Angeles and London, with celebrities even commissioning or buying his works. Modernly he’s a well-known street artist with hundreds of works, and even a documentary with him as the subject receiving Academy Awards. Even still, with as many works as he’s put out, “Love is in the Air” remains to be one of the most popularized and commercialized art works that he has.