Done in Bristol, famous graffiti
artist Banksy creates a satirical warning toward modern technology based on how
much time we spend on it. This piece aims to convey to the general public that
we should live more in the moment and less on our phones, and it is expressed
through the main idea in which, despite having someone right in front of them,
neither of the two subjects look away from their phone to acknowledge each
other whatsoever.
The use of irony in the
main idea is the most prominent message of the artwork. It translates to what some
assume to be the reality of our interactions in modern day society, and it also
exaggerates the limit of phone snubbing just enough to perhaps make fellow ‘mobile
lovers’ recognize their behavior toward others in their presence and try to
change it little by little. Most would assume that no one would ever think to
pull their phone out of their pocket while embracing someone they are close to,
however the visual serves to only emphasize the ironic habit of choosing online
contact over personal in order to get a response.
The colors also aid in
passing along the message as well. Banksy’s graffiti is generally dark in its
color palette, but the obvious bright blue lights emitting from the cellular
devices in both of the subjects’ hands draws the eyes of the audience to the
faces of the subjects themselves. Their expressions are detached and
emotionless as they focus on the screen just over their companion’s shoulder
despite the intimate position the two are in, and it only furthers Banksy’s
argument to lower the amount of attention we give our screens when there are
people around us to interact with as well. While many may do this to a lesser
extent, it is still a reasonable argument for the artist to make when phones
are often present during face-to-face conversation between friends.
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