BKY01

Soup Can 7/10

Artist and date

Banksy, 2005

Dimensions, materials and tecniques

Screenprint on Paper 19 7/10 × 13 4/5 in 50 × 35 cm

Description

Banksy’s Soup Can is a clear reference to Andy Warhol’s popular 1962 series of Campbell’s Soup that made Pop Art famous all over the world. However, contrary to Warhol’s homage to the endlessly reproduced images of consumer society, here Banksy offers a biting criticism of the supermarket giant who has come to take over the contemporary marketplace. The artist’ decision to only depict one taste, tomato soup, shows the stark reality and monotony, of surviving on a tight budget. Printed in three colours on a cream background the artwork evokes the vintage aesthetic that is now called upon by supermarkets such as Tesco to sell British products. Banksy has criticised Tesco before, in the mural 'Very Little Helps', a reference to the Tesco slogan ‘Every Little Helps’. The mural, now covered by Perspex, depicts three children surrounding a flagpole where instead of the flag there is the plastic Tesco carrier bag. In this work the artist denounces the omnipresence of Tesco supermarkets, with their openly stated desire to establish even more stores in the country. Banksy’s original Soup Can screenprint was released in 2005 and published by Pictures on Walls. The artist’s soup cans are now considered to be amongst his most iconic and recognisable artworks. A total edition of 300 (50 signed and 250 Soup Can unsigned prints) was released for this version.

Provenance, literature, exhibitions & events

Acquired directly from the artist