Irprn, Hostomelske Shose 15 2022

Banksy made this artwork, Irprn, Hostomelske Shose 15, by stenciling on a war-torn building in Ukraine. I can imagine him there with his spray can, making a gesture that’s so strong. The image is a figure of a gymnast performing with a ribbon. You know, as a painter, I feel for Banksy, working with the texture of the ruined wall – all those holes and raw edges – using that as a surface, finding a way to make something beautiful and powerful. The gymnast herself seems so weightless and fluid, a symbol of resilience and grace amidst the chaos. It's like she's dancing on the edge of a wound, transforming it into something else. This piece reminds me of other artists who use their work as a form of resistance, who find ways to create meaning out of destruction. It's a conversation across time, where artists respond to each other's ideas, inspiring new ways of seeing and feeling.