Girl with a Balloon
Gretchen Meidell
I have chosen to analyze a piece by the graffiti artist known as Banksy. This particular
piece is called “Girl with a Balloon.” This piece was found in 2002 on the side of a London
building. It was later painted over to again push against the thought of graffiti as a good thing.
Not only did this piece contain the girl and the balloon but also a saying, “There is always hope.”
Although there isn’t a specific answer to the question “What does it mean?” there are many
discussions and arguments over it.
Banksy has been known for the simplicity of his pieces. “Girl with a Balloon,” is as
simple as a small girl in black and white, a saying behind her, and a red, heart-shaped balloon
just out of reach of her hand. Banksy uses the grass that is breaking through the cement to show
that not everything is man-made. This piece along with most of his others was created by stencil.
He uses black and white for the main part of his designs. It is then that Banksy adds a hint of
color to represent something important that we need to recognize in our daily lives. Also often
using the natural water flow or cracking in a wall to help push what he is trying to say.
“Girl with a Balloon” is known for having multiple meanings. To some, the girl is
releasing the balloon, therefore representing her moving on or letting go of something in her life.
To others, she is trying to grab the balloon. This could represent the girl trying to reclaim her
innocence or a lost love. Maybe even her wanting for her childhood to last forever. The point is
you choose the meaning behind it. You see what you want to see, imagine what you want to
imagine.
Banksy has been creating these simple yet meaningful pieces for years. Many of which
have been sold, being made into tattoos, shirts, bags, and even wall stencils. Banksy doesn’t
strive to be famous, he strives to be heard. Even if it is just because he is shaming the upper class
showing the world that there is beauty in everything. Might even be to show that man-made
things or places could have been used for better purposes, such as parks.
This is one of my favorite pieces of art, even if it is graffiti. The beauty in the simplicity
is what makes it unique. “Girl with a Balloon” inspires me to keep going, to keep reaching for
the future. But it also reminds me to let go of the past, to have hope even with what you’ve been
through. The research that I found has shown me it can be either way.
Researching this has proven to be useful in opening up to all of the possible ideas of what
artists could be meaning to portray. Banksy is vague for a reason. Whether it is for our sake in
thinking what it means to us, or for the idea that he finds that everything can be simple or
complex and yet still have simple solutions.
Art can be used in many ways, to represent certain things. With all different kinds of art,
whether it be music or graffiti, sculptures or buildings, we as people strive to show our thoughts
and ideas. Regardless, if we listen, we may learn a thing or two about the world.
Works Cited
"Girl With a Balloon by Banksy." Stencil Revolution. N.p., 07 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.stencilrevolution.com/banksy-art-prints/girl-with-a-balloon/>.
"Girl With a Balloon by Banksy: Meaning Behind the Graffiti Art." Hub Pages. N.p., n.d. Web.
11 Oct. 2015. <http://banksyeffect.hubpages.com/hub/banksy-girl-with-balloon>.
"Banksy: Graffiti Is Art." Banksy: Graffiti Is Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
<http://people.southwestern.edu/~bednarb/su_netWorks/projects/jle/balloon.html>.