About Applause

Part of the Barely Legal print series, Banksy's Applause captures a scene where two air traffic controllers guide a fighter jet, with a cargo ship looming in the background. The vessel hovers over onlookers, diminishing them to a nearly imperceptible size. The central male figure holds an applause sign, the sole burst of colour amid the yellow high-visibility jackets. Intriguingly, the original crowd from the coloured photograph that inspired the print has been erased with a stencil, creating a white noise effect that symbolises the impact of television and popular media on contemporary society.

Broader context

The print comments on the dynamics of media dissemination and our reception and acceptance of information. In the print's context, the applause sign becomes a representation of how decisions made by those in power shape society, fostering illusions of stability and order. The presence of vehicles overshadowing human figures in the background reflects Banksy's stance against the glorification of war, a recurrent theme in his body of work.

What’s unique about Applause?

Applause stands out as the most intricate screen print in the Barely Legal collection, featuring a level of detail reminiscent of a meticulous sketch as opposed to a conventional stencil. Moreover, it deviates from the set’s standard dimensions—while the other five prints measure around 76 cm x 57 cm, Applause boasts larger dimensions at 114 cm x 76 cm.