Keep It Real, 2002
From a series
Provenance
Private Collection, Japan (acquired from the artist in 2002)
This work was created in a one-time performance event hosted in commercial shop in 2002 in Japan
Auction History
| Sotheby’s Hong-Kong 7 October 2019 Est.: HKD 300,000 – 600,000 |
Price Realized
HKD 3,125,000 / USD 398,355 |
Catalogue Note
This rare cardboard version of Keep It Real offers a compelling variation on one of Banksy’s most enduring early compositions. Executed in 2002, the work belongs to the series of unique paintings exploring authenticity, artistic integrity and the contradictions of the contemporary art world. As discussed in the main catalogue entry, the chimpanzee carrying the simple injunction “Keep It Real” has become one of Banksy’s most concise artistic manifestos, reminding viewers that sincerity ultimately matters more than reputation or commercial success.
What distinguishes this example is its unconventional support. Executed directly on corrugated cardboard, the work deliberately embraces one of the humblest materials available. Associated with packaging, shipping and disposability, cardboard stands in deliberate opposition to the preciousness traditionally associated with fine art. Banksy frequently employs ordinary, found materials to blur the boundary between everyday life and the gallery, reinforcing his conviction that the value of art lies in the strength of the idea rather than the luxury of its medium.
The visible folds, punctures and natural imperfections of the cardboard further enhance the work’s raw aesthetic, recalling the temporary surfaces of the street on which Banksy first established his reputation. The image appears less like a carefully produced studio painting than a stencil hastily applied in an urban environment, preserving the immediacy and spontaneity of graffiti despite its presentation as a unique work of art.
“I use monkeys in my pictures for a lot of reasons, guerrilla tactics, cheeky monkeys, the fact that we share 98.5 per cent of our DNA with them. If I want to say something about people, I use a monkey.”
Its provenance further adds to its significance. Acquired directly from the artist in Japan in 2002, the work was created during a one-off performance event held in a commercial shop, making it a rare document of Banksy’s earliest international activities. Combining exceptional provenance with an unconventional support, this example perfectly embodies the artist’s ability to elevate the ordinary while questioning the very conventions upon which the art market is built.
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