“In Ukraine I saw a Legacy of War team sweep in and provide medical attention, heaters, fresh water and a friendly face to some very desperate people in a bombed out building. They also lent me one of their ambulances to work from, which turned out to be extremely useful when an angry babushka found me painting on her building and called the Police. I feel the least I should do is raise enough money to replace the number plates on the ambulance I hotted up..”
No More War — Legacy of War Foundation
“I’ve made 50 of these screenprints with all proceeds going to our friends in Ukraine.”
** We have been asked to point out that ‘due to the fact the production process involves Banksy attacking every print with a sharpened pizza cutter – they are each unique and will differ slightly from the one pictured’ **
50 Agile Rat Screen Prints were sold via the Legacy of War Foundation website in 2022 as part of a fundraising campaign to support civilians affected by the conflict in Ukraine. A staggering 1.3 million applications were submitted for the coveted pieces.
The limited edition work features a white rat clawing out the word “Fragile” on a cardboard backdrop and arrives in a float mounted in a wood frame. Each one is made by Banksy with a sharpened pizza cutter, giving every piece a look, and is signed and numbered by the artist.
The artwork itself showcases Banksy’s trademark creativity and ingenuity. Featuring a rat climbing up a freight box marked ‘FRAGILE,’ the rodent’s claws have scratched out the ‘F’ and ‘R,’ leaving behind the word ‘AGILE’ – a nod to the resilience of the Ukrainian people. In true Banksy style, it is believed that the distinctive scratch marks were made using a pizza cutter, with each print featuring a different scratch pattern. The serial number on the freight box is a reference to the completion date of the artwork. This is an important and evocative work that showcases the artist’s unique style, with his trademark ‘rat’ image at the heart of the piece.
Agile
Medium: Seven color screenprint on cardboard
Year: 2022
Sheet: 47×47 cm
Edition
50 signed
Each one is hand-finished by Banksy with a sharpened pizza cutter
Signed and numbered
Auction Results
McTear’s Glasgow: 14 December 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 50,000 (Hammer)
Lot 50 – * BANKSY (BRITISH b. 1974),
BANKSY (BRITISH b. 1974)
AGILE, 2022
Hand-finished 7 color screenprint on cardboard
Signed and inscribed ‘Thanks Chris‘ with a peace symbol
Outside of the numbered edition of 50
