Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on pinterest
Share on email

Every Time I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else, 2002-2003

BY

Protesting war is a theme that occupies a special place in Banksy’s work (see for example Banksy’s CND Soldiers), and Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else – an image of two cheerfully humping military vehicles, surrounded by a saccharine pink heart – is a pertinent example of Banksy’s views on modern warfare. Striking a balance between the whimsical and subversive is key trait of Banksy’s work: though the work strikes an ostensibly light-hearted, even humorous tone, Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else was executed in the wake of 9/11, in the midst of escalating tensions and around the same time the US government began publicly setting out the groundwork for an invasion of Iraq, supported by key allies such as the United Kingdom.

As the title of the work suggests, modern warfare is an expired, loveless relationship in which the invading parties are simply going through the motions. The banality of this arrangement is mocked by the oversized pink heart, which speaks to the superficial – even tacky – nature of the ‘theatre’ created by the parties intent on going to war. The vehicle on the left bears a strong resemblance to a British Humber armored car, one of the most widely produced armored cars of the Second World War. Its machine gun, pointed away from view, disappears into the undercarriage of a second military vehicle, one that bears a strong resemblance to the American M1117, a mine-resistant armored military vehicle that was deployed in increasing numbers after 2001 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else skewers the intentions of the two main protagonists in the Iraq War, suggesting that both parties have their sights set on other objectives and willingly engage in war to further a hidden agenda – as a means of obtaining access to oil fields, or to re-assert waning global influence for example. Banksy uses his art as a call to action:

“It takes a lot of guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no-one else believes in – like peace and justice and freedom.” 

Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else was exhibited at the artist’s first show in Los Angeles (and his fourth ever solo show in a formal exhibition space) at Gallery 33 1/3 in 2002. Called ‘Existencilism’, the exhibition debuted some of his most iconic works including “Queen Victoria” and “Laugh Now”, and almost sold out. Once an outsider, today Banksy is firmly considered a cultural icon and his artistic achievements extend to canvas paintings, conceptual sculpture and even film, with the Academy Award-nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. His work now forms part of eminent public collections including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Auction Results

Every Time I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else, 2002

Christie’s London: 21 October 2008
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 46,850
BANKSY
Every Time I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else, 2002
Acrylic and spray enamel on canvas
91.4 x 91.4 cm (36×36 inches)
Stencil-signed “BANKSY” on the overlap
Provenance
33 1/3 Gallery, Los Angeles

Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else, 2002

Phillips Hong-Kong: 26 May 2019
Estimated: HKD 2,400,000 – 3,500,000
HKD 3,125,000 /  USD 401,052

BANKSY
Everytime I Make Love to you I Think of Someone Else, 2002
Acrylic, spray paint and stencil on canvas
91.5 x 76 cm (36 x 29 7/8 inches)
Tagged ‘BANKSY’ on the lower right edge
Further signed, numbered and dated ‘BANKSY 1/5 LA 2002’ on the stretcher

Provenance
33 1/3 Gallery, Los Angeles
Private Collection (acquired from the above in 2002)
Sotheby’s, London, 16 October 2010, lot 214
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Exhibited
Existencilism, 33 1/3 Gallery, Los Angeles, July 19 – August 18, 2002

Every Time I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else, 2003

Bonhams London: 11 January 2011
GBP 42,000 / USD 57,950
Bonhams : Banksy (British, born 1975) ‘Everytime I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else’, 2003
BANKSY (British, born 1975)

Every Time I Make Love To You I Think Of Someone Else, 2003
Stencil spray-paint and acrylic on canvas
51×51 cm (20 1/16 x 20 1/16 inches)
Stenciled signed to the overlap

Provenance
A gift from the artist to the current owner.

Gallery

More like this

wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon