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Banksy’s New Mural Mocks Smart Phone Distracted Lovers

Banksy, the most recognized street artist of this era, had been quiet since his whirlwind tour of New York City last fall. Well, he's up to his old tricks again, and his website was recently updated with a new piece that's painted on a quaint stone wall on Clement Street in Bristol, United Kingdom. It features two people in a close embrace but are distracted and checking their phones over the other's shoulder.

Like other Banksy pieces, he used multiple spray-painted stencils to achieve the subtle details and glow of mobile devices. It results in a witty social commentary that our phones rule our lives, even in intimate moments like the one that's depicted here. The incessant chirping and push notifications have made us partially removed from what's in front of us, and Banksy may be reminding us that it would be beneficial to put away our cell phones every once in awhile.



Photo credit: Sa//y


Photo credit: Sa//y

Banksy website
via [Street Art News and Arrested Motion]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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