Congestion Charge, 2004

Congestion Charge from 2004 is a unique and rare example of Banksy’s Vandalized Oil series also referred to as Crude Oils. Bought from Santa’s Ghetto by Sir Paul Smith in 2004, the work has remained in the British fashion icon’s distinguished private collection ever since and comes to auction for the very first time. Made famous through a now iconic show in 2005 with the same title, the Crude Oils consist of reimagined old master paintings such as such as Show Me The Monet and Sunflowers From Petrol Station alongside modified traditional oils on canvas like the present work. Bought at flea markets around London, Banksy would add his own subversive touches to classical canvas paintings, a congestion charge sign in an otherwise idyllic traditional landscape, injecting new paradoxical meaning into the outdated artwork. This act of subversion serves as a commentary on the commercialization of art and the collective memory of historical and present events. Banksy’s modifications challenge the original context and narrative of the paintings, highlighting the power of art to disrupt and provoke critical thought about societal issues and the role of art in shaping collective consciousness.

First introduced in 2003, the year before the present work was executed, congestion charge is a fee imposed on vehicles entering certain areas of London during peak hours to reduce traffic and promote public transportation. Banksy’s artwork ridicules the policy, suggesting an absurd placement of the charge sign in a remote farm path that is unusable due to flooding. As with many of Banksy’s works, Congestion Charge has a playful and thought-provoking nature. It captures attention and prompts viewers to question the effectiveness and consequences of urban policies. Around the same time, Banksy famously placed some of his Vandalized Oils in prominent galleries, where they would hang unnoticed amongst the institutions permanent collection, at times for days. At the British Museum for example, he secretly placed a modified version of a prehistoric cave painting, adding a figure pushing a shopping cart and a barcode. The act drew attention to the commercialization of art and the consumer-driven society we live in with the modified artwork remaining on display for several days before being discovered and removed by museum officials. The act allowed Banksy to circumvent the traditional art world and its gatekeepers, making a direct impact on the public sphere and challenging the notions of ownership, authenticity, and the commercialization of art. His disruptive tactics challenged viewers to re-evaluate their perceptions of art and the institutions that house it.

As Banksy’s profile and collectability has developed, unique works of exceptional history and quality become still more prized. Presented here for sale is such a painting that demonstrates the British artist’s indisputable and enduring currency as social commentator and contemporary artist that has remained in the highly distinguished art collection of Sir Paul Smith for nearly two decades. In common with many of Banksy’s most successful works, Congestion Charge intends to amuse the viewer, yet it also aims to engender thought provoking discourse within a broader socio-political context.