Heavy Weaponry depicts a singular elephant made in Banksy’s recognizable stencil style with a rocket strapped to its back, hence the double-entendre in the witty title. The entire composition consists of a minimally depicted animal simply strolling forward, heavy with irony. The image of the elephant bearing a rocket on its back carries various interpretations; presumably the general message is anti-military, in line with Banksy’s other works using similar imagery. Using the elephant as a symbol resonates with other famous Banksy works featuring various animals that represent ordinary people or the “masses” vis-a-vis the establishment and the military-industrialist complex.

Heavy Weaponry (Silver Edition) last sold at Sotheby’s Hong-Kong, on 7 October 2019, for USD 159,367.