The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for many months, with many parts of Ukraine suffering from the devastation of war. People from around the world have been closely following the situation in both countries and have been showing their support to Ukraine in various ways. Last week, local residents discovered several graffiti artworks on the streets, which bore a striking resemblance to the style of the British graffiti artist Banksy, leading many to speculate whether it was indeed the work of the artist himself.
Banksy finally opened an account on social media and released a short film showing the creation process of 7 works in cities like the capital Kyiv. In addition to the earlier confirmed “upside-down gymnast,” there are also “judo boy knocking down an adult,” “tank seesaw,” “woman with gas mask holding a fire extinguisher,” “female gymnast waving a ribbon,” “old man scrubbing in a bathtub,” and “Russian military tank” works.
These works are all hidden on the shattered walls that have clearly been ravaged by war, starkly displaying the horrors of war. The music in the short film is a mournful Ukrainian folk song, with shots of the artist cutting stencils and spray painting murals.
In addition, the film also includes interviews with the Ukrainian people. One of them is in front of a destroyed school building, where a mother and her child are interviewed briefly on the street – as the lady comforts her little daughter, she candidly says, “Don’t cry anymore, we have cried so much, there are no more tears left.” It is heartbreaking to hear.
At the end of the film, the artist included a title card that read “Supporting the Ukrainian People,” making their anti-war stance clear.
