Banksy is a street artist who has created various sensational incidents in the art scene that have shocked the world.
What does "Umbrella Rat," which he has been drawing since the beginning of his career, mean? In this issue, we will explain "Banksy's Rat.

Banksy's Rat

A stencil drawing of "Banksy's Rat" found at a tide gate in Tokyo Bay in January 2019.
It is considered highly authentic, as it appears on Banksy's official website.
But why does Banksy continue to paint rats?

Rats = Dobutsu-mice are "enemies of society

When we say "rat" in Japanese, we often associate it with a small, white, cute house mouse. In English, however, the word "rat" refers to a rat.
Dobutsu rats are frowned upon as vermin that spread pathogens and eat away at household goods and power lines.
Banksy may have compared himself as a working-class person to a rat in a cage, or perhaps to himself, who steals people's attention and paints graffiti on the streets at night.
The various rats painted on the streets not only in his hometown of Bristol, England, but also in London, Paris, and other streets around the world are made with an ingenuity that is only possible on the spot, such as near the Eiffel Tower, where they look as if they are sightseeing under a parasol.

Are Banksy's rats anti-establishment?

The act of graffiti by Banksy is considered illegal to begin with, and if the police or other authorities catch him actually drawing it, he is subject to fines and other penalties. It can be said to be an anti-establishment and anti-government method of expression.
In addition to the meaning of the act itself, the contents of the drawings also contain anti-establishment messages, and the scale of these drawings is becoming larger and larger every year. His works are dark and ironic, such as "Dizmarand," the title and content of which make fun of a certain major amusement park.
However, some of his works, such as "The Man Who Throws Bouquets of Flowers," seem to depict something aggressive at first glance, but can be read as throwing a peaceful or fantasy-like message, such as the throwing of a bouquet of flowers.
This is why it has gained widespread popularity among the masses and worldwide.

Umbrellas as a tribute to Mary Poppins

So why once again do rats carry umbrellas (and bags)?
In "Mary Poppins," which is familiar to the British public, Poppins, with her umbrella and bag, takes a child to experience another world. The motif of the umbrella and bag would have been immediately recognizable to those familiar with the story.
The message can be read in the motif that even the most hated rat in society should be able to fly high in the sky, and that he or she should go over the wall by himself or herself.

The Meaning of the Rat on the Seawall

So what does it mean that such a "flying" rat is painted on a tide gate in Tokyo Bay?
This tide gate is an emergency disaster prevention facility that is normally open to allow people to pass through, but when the water rises, it acts as a levee, and in bold red letters, it says "No Passage". The rats are drawn just below the words, giving the impression of movement as if they were climbing over the roadblock.

The image of "climbing over the wall" has also been depicted in the past on separation walls erected in conflict zones in Palestine, pointing out the similarities between the two.

It is said that this tide barrier has now been removed and is open to the public at the Hinode Pier No. 2 Ship Passenger Waiting Area. It can be said that what was valid in its original location has lost all meaning since it was moved to another location for preservation.



Also read.
Banksy's Works and Secrets Explained! [Street Art



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