Exhibitions
Banksy shakes Barcelona: 'Disrupted Power', power and subversion in 25 original works
The new exhibition at the Moco Museum brings together verified pieces by the British artist, inviting us to reflect on control, resistance and social criticism through humor and irony.
The Moco Museum in Barcelona has inaugurated this Tuesday, December 16, the long-awaited exhibition Disrupted Power , a unique journey through the work of Banksy that brings together twenty-five pieces officially verified by Pest Control, the only organization authorized to authenticate the artist's production. This exhibition not only offers the possibility of contemplating original works - an increasingly rare privilege, given the ephemeral and urban nature of much of his work - but also allows you to immerse yourself in one of the British creator's most persistent obsessions: power and its disruption.
Among the most outstanding pieces, and exhibited for the first time, are Madonna and Child (2024) and Happy Choppers (Crude Oil) (2024). The former proposes a delicate but disturbing reinterpretation of a sacred figure, questioning the relationship between devotion, tradition and the symbolic violence of power. The latter confronts the viewer with military helicopters bursting into a serene autumn landscape, an image that encapsulates silent violence and the invasion of control over seemingly peaceful spaces. These works, along with the rest of the exhibition, demonstrate Banksy's ability to transform the everyday into social criticism, using humor, irony and subtle gesture as tools of resistance.
Disrupted Power is not simply an exhibition of urban art brought to the museum; it is a reflection on how mechanisms of control infiltrate everyday life and how subversion can manifest itself in unexpected ways. Each work invites us to question established systems, whether through striking images or subtle details that require a closer look. Some pieces scream out loud; others whisper, but all have a force that transcends the wall on which they are painted, keeping intact the critical intent that characterizes Banksy.
During the presentation of the exhibition, Birthe Fassen, responsible for the exhibitions of the three Moco museums, highlighted that Banksy “stands out for the stories he tells and the imagination he displays”, and stressed that his work is “particularly relevant from a cultural point of view today”.
The exhibition also includes several recent additions, some of which have never been exhibited in a museum, making Disrupted Power an essential event for those who want to understand the evolution of the artist and his ability to dialogue with the present. When walking through the exhibition, one perceives not only the creator's irreverence, but also his ability to provoke reflection on politics, war, religion and the social codes that regulate our existence.
Ultimately, Disrupted Power at the Moco Museum in Barcelona offers much more than a gallery of images; it is a space where the viewer can confront, question and, ultimately, recognize how art can become an instrument of resistance to power. Banksy demonstrates, once again, that his work remains as provocative as it is necessary, reminding us that disruption can arise from the most unexpected places and that even in the most subtle irony there is a force capable of shaking up consolidated structures.
