“The Greatest Crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules.”
Flying Copper shows an armed police officer. The policeman has a striking yellow smiley face which evokes of 1990s acid house culture but also a simply-drawn popular and childlike design, together with angel wings attached to his back. The symbolism of the smiling face juxtaposed with assault rifle and armor shows a striking image of oppression and threat hiding behind a friendly face. Flying Copper explores the line between “peace-keeper” and “militant forces,” reminding the viewer to be skeptical of those with too much authority or power.
Flying Copper first appeared under a number of giant cut-out paintings suspended on cardboard from the ceiling at Turf War, Banksy’s first major exhibition in a warehouse in East London in 2003. The cut-outs were later spotted on the streets of Vienna and London, where the stencil appeared with a distinct red Banksy tag through the middle of it. Shoreditch Bridge also featured a row of Flying Coppers at some point.
Flying Copper is one of Banksy’s earliest and most iconic images. As such, it is well known all around the world. Indeed, this visual is the perfect example of Banksy’s style featuring contrasting aesthetics: photo-realistic stencils combined with graphic features. Combining those features results in a striking visual that sticks in the mind of the viewer. The juxtaposition of opposing concepts compels the audience to reconcile the fact that the “smiley face” (happiness), on an individual outfitted with riot gear (fear and intimidation) are perhaps not as contradictory as we might naturally think.
Banksy combines them into one singular image to question the role the police state truly plays and how “perception vs reality” are oftentimes very different. The little angel wings on the policeman’s back accentuate an amusing juxtaposition between morality, truth, military control and intimidation.
Smiling Copper, 2003
Spray-paint and acrylic on cardboard
200×78 cm (78 3/4 x 30 3/4 inches)
From a series
DESCRIPTION
Flying Copper
Editions
COLORWAYS
AUCTION RESULTS
Updated as of 10 March 2023
1. Flying Copper (unsigned)
Flying Copper (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 512/600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 44,100 / USD 52,920
GBP 32,760 / USD 41,278
GBP 37,800 / USD 49,896
GBP 31,500 / USD 43,785
2. Flying Copper (signed)
Flying Copper (signed), 2003
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered /150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp
Forum Auctions: 5 March 2021
GBP 113.900 / USD 158,321
