Happy Choppers – Banksy – Pop Art Painting

The composition showcases an association of typically contradictory elements. The lead ‘chopper’ flaunts a jarring, pink bow, juxtaposing the violence of warfare with the innocence of childhood. The bow adorning the otherwise accurate representation of the fighter helicopter mocks ideas of masculinity and militarism, whilst reinforcing their inherent menace.Happy Choppers is an early example of Banksy's helicopter motif. He has revisited the symbol for military intervention multiple times throughout his career, making it an iconic part of his artistic identity.Banksy’s recognizable stencil style, Happy Choppers depicts a squadron of armed military helicopters against a bright blue sky. With simple white clouds, the sky is stylised and flat. In stark contrast, the incoming ‘choppers’ are rendered in much greater detail, in dark colours and with graphic emphasis on their heavy, threatening weaponry, evoking a sense of imminent danger. ‘Chopper’ is the American slang for helicopter, a term that was popularized during the Korean War.

Banksy is an anonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director of unverified identity. Their satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique.