© Banksy

Contemporary war movies depict drones as lightweight, mobile bunker-busting machines, but who knew that they could be used to generate anti-arms funding to the tune of more than £200,000?  Banksy, an anonymous street artist hailing from Bristol, has created a unique artwork with the use of child-like drawings and three Predator drones.

The artwork is entitled “Civilian Drone Strike”. Here’s an accurate explanation of the featured piece: “A simple black and white drawing of an exploding house is in the background. It’s up in coloured flames and smoke. In the foreground, a child and his dog looks on in stupefied horror. The house has come apart at the corners, with bits of material flying everywhere. Overhead, a group of drones fly past the house.”

The piece was displayed among with other exhibitions at an art fair called Stop The Arms Fair, located in East London. Coincidentally, it was opened at the same time that the largest arms fair exhibition was being held over at the Defence and Security Equipment International on Friday.

The artist mentions that the piece was supposed to show the inhumanity regarding the whole arms trade using artwork. Other art pieces were in display from more than a thousand exhibitors coming from around 50 countries worldwide.

The proceeds from the artwork sale will be given to two causes- Reprieve, a human rights group and the organizers of the anti-war exhibition campaign, CAAT (Campaign Against Arms Trade). CAAT organizer Andrew Smith has mentioned that the funds will be used to provide more people and support for the next arms trade exhibition in an effort to stop the event from happening. He furthermore added that it was high time for the global arms trade to stop.

Smith expressed his concern for the government and their dealings with dictatorships and despots in the arms trade. The anti-war advocate said that if the UK government truly cared for democracy, human rights and peace, then they will immediately end the support for weapons trade shows like the DSEI.

The DSEI features the latest and the most technologically advanced military equipment ranging from high-speed inflatables, protective clothing, sniper rifles, armored personnel carriers to tanks, and more. In particular, the International Trade Department highlights include an off-road RIV (rapid intervention vehicle) replete with weaponry such as an inflatable rescue launch, UAVs (unmanned aerial drones), a light artillery gun and a machine gun.

Who is Banksy?

Banksy is a mysterious street artist known for his pieces depicting various socio-political problems. His latest artwork, the Civilian Drone Strike, is a pointed criticism regarding the human cost in the arms race.

Arms Fair organizer Sam Walton had this to say about the artwork- “Banksy is offering a unique critique regarding the military industry by destroying a nice, child-like drawing. Civilian Drone Strike is quite a powerful statement that openly defies everything the DSEI stands for.”

Aside from Banksy, there were a number of high-profile war activists and artists that contributed to the anti-arms exhibition, including Darren Cullen, the Guerilla Girls and Peter Kennard, among others.

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