This image by the street artist, Banksy, demonstrates the irony of fighting for peace by using armed soldiers painting a peace sign. The audience that Banksy reaches out to is the general public of the city he decides to paint the image in. Location of this painting is important in order to present a background that pairs with the scene he was trying to create. Another tool that Banksy uses for this image is color with was an element that went into choosing the wall to paint this on and use of only using red points on what is the main idea behind his message. Nothing used in this painting is accidental and that is what makes his image so powerful to the viewers. Banksy’s lack of color and the way that the soldiers are used covey’s his message to have the audience question how they feel about wars for peace. 

The location of this image is very important because street art could be anywhere but Banksy chose this wall. The wall is concrete and seems to be old because of the “stains” presented. This gives the wall an older and bleak look because the color that is created is a grimy hue of gray. Another element of the location is the ground in front of the wall which looks like the soldiers are standing on it. The ground is also gray and dusty looking which depicts a less civilized and dirty area. Although where this painting is placed isn’t in an area that is currently in the middle of a war, the viewer can connect that these soldiers are in a hostile environment. The structure of the wall and ground correspond so that there is no confusion from the viewer about the inhospitable feeling that this location helps create. This choice of background is used by the artist to construct a setting that best demonstrates a war-like area. By doing this the viewer is able to assimilate themselves into the situation more effectively.

Banksy’s choice of only using red for the peace symbol in the image shows the viewer what should stand out in his painting. The color red is very easy to spot on the bland background which only black figures around it. Humans respond to the color red because it is associated with stop signs and other symbols that are meant to get our attention. Although red is only used in one part of the painting it is a very big and central piece to it which would help stop someone on the street to get them to look. Red is the only color used in this painting because it symbolizes war and danger. This adds more irony to the painting because the peace symbol is painted with a color that signifies war, which is the opposite of peace. Blood is also associated with the color red because it is what humans bleed. Not only is red used but it is painted in a way that indicates that it is dripping down the wall, like blood would. Blood would be depicted to give allusion to the blood that is shed for wars for peace. By making this connection the viewer imagines the gruesome idea that the soldier could be painting with the blood of all the soldiers who have died for cause. By choosing this color Banksy wants to capture the audience’s attention and for them to make a connection to the cost of a country’s peace and how it is most likely obtained in a hostile and ironic way.

By the way that the soldiers are positioned it is clear that the audience is not directly involved in the situation but simply a bystander. The soldier to the right that is painting the peace sign is looking over to the left and seems to have been distracted from the artwork. This could mean that he heard something over towards that area that could potentially be dangerous for him and his partner. The soldier to the left is crouched and has his gun up as if he is ready to fire in order to protect himself and his partner. His line of sight is also the left, like the other soldier, which would indicate they are both on edge and are on high alert in case they are caught. Both men are painted black with little detail to their faces which makes them seem less human, therefore the viewer sees them more as soldiers than people. Both of these men are risking their lives in this situation since they are both concerned by the same distraction which means they are passionate about painting the peace sign on the wall. The soldier is either painting this peace sign to show what he is fighting for or to show why he does not want to fight. This image is not something you would see two typical soldiers doing during combat which may mean they are rogue and nervous of their own government. Both soldiers are wearing a lot of equipment such as radios, helmets, and assault weapons. This is fairly new technology which convinces the view that the artist is referring to this time period and how wars on peace are still going on. This also shows how humans have yet to evolve from solving problems without the use of war. 

Banksy’s soldier painting challenges a lot of society’s ideas about peace and how it comes about in countries. We hear a lot about arms fighting for peace and most people do not find the irony in that statement. This image demonstrates this irony and the price that people have to pay for this privilege. There are no words in this painting but there is one symbol which stands for peace. Other than that the viewer tries to understand the meaning through the location(background), colors, and position of the subjects. A lot of Banksy’s work involves pointing out the ironic thinking of society and this painting is no exception.   