Monkey Detonator, one of Banksy’s most famed and coveted images, perfectly exemplifies the Bristol-born artist’s irreverent wit in its portrayal of a cheerful monkey jumping directly onto a detonator to ignite an explosion. Caught mid-leap with hands already grasped around the plunger, ready to push down, a curious juxtaposition is presented between the dangerousness of the device and the chimp’s determination, despite the obvious risk of being fatally harmed himself. As a captivating example from Banksy’s visually striking oeuvre,
“You paint 100 chimpanzees and they still call you a guerrilla artist.”

Monkey Detonator, 2002
Spray-paint on canvas
91×60 cm (35 5/8 x 23 5/8 inches)
Stenciled “BANKSY” lower right

Auction Results
Monkey Detonator, 2002
Phillips Hong-Kong: 3 December 2020
Estimated: HKD 3,800,000 – 4,800,000
Price realized: HKD 5,292,000 / USD 683,000
Banksy – 20th Century & Contemporar… Lot 27 December 2020 | Phillips
BANKSY
Monkey Detonator, 2002
Spray-paint on card
90.8 x 90.8 cm (35 3/4 x35 3/4 inches)
From a series, unique in this format
Provenance
Lazinc, United Kingdom (acquired directly from the artist)
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Monkey Detonator, 2002
Estimated: HKD 2,500,000 – 3,500,000
HKD 3,260,000 / USD 429,190
BANKSY
Monkey Detonator, 2002
Spray paint on board
105×105 cm (41 1/4 x 41 1/4 inches)
Signed on the reverse
Provenance
Private Collection, Europe