Banksy.

Barcode

To my mind, Banksy is a brilliant artist and it’s really hard to choose the best of his murals. However,
Barcode, also known as Barcode Leopard, is probably the most impressive of those I have seen. I love that
the message is understandable at the first sight, but at the same time the longer you look and think, the
more you discover.

For the first time, “Barcode” appeared on the side of a house on Pembroke Road in Bristol. The mural was
quickly removed from the wall in August 2010 but appeared again a few years after.

The picture shows a leopard who just escaped from his cage, which looks exactly like a barcode on wheels.
In my opinion, this print criticizes not only the way humans use animals for their entertainment but the
whole system of consumerism.

My favorite thing about this art is the hidden subtexts. For instance, the link between the leopard and the
barcode by their unique character. Just like all leopards have a unique pattern of spots, all barcodes have
unique combinations too.