Banksy - Soup cans - 2006

Soup Cans (Tesco Value Tomato Soup)
Banksy
Medium: Offset lithograph printed on white paper, plate signed "Banksy” on bottom right of image

Year: 2006 - 2017

Size:
Image: 84.0cm x 59.0cm

Arty-Fact: "Soup Cans (Tesco Value Tomato Soup)" draws upon one of the most recognisable and iconic images of the 20th century, namely Andy Warhol's series of "Campbell's Soup Cans". In marrying art with commerce, Warhol's images defined a momentous shift in 20th century contemporary art, challenging the definition of aesthetics, the role of art and the concepts of originality and reproduction. In replicating these images, Banksy is aware of both the controversy courted by Warhol about the merit of his art, as well as the fact that these works helped to launch him as one of the important artists of our era.

However, whilst Warhol's Soup Cans appear devoid of any social commentary, merely documenting the ubiquitous banalities inherent in advertising, Banksy's "Tesco Value Tomato Soup" is a critique of the excesses of consumerism and power of the corporate giants.

The poster was released by POW (Pictures On Walls).