Call for Price
First shown at Banksy’s 2003 exhibition of the same name, Turf War depicts former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill with a lime green mohican. Turf War took place in a warehouse on East London’s Kingsland Road; suspended from the ceiling, the homonymous painting after which the exhibition – and this print – is named was flanked by the artist’s iconic work, Flying Coppers.
The Turf War screen prints were released by Pictures on Walls shortly after the exhibition was held. The now-defunct London-based printhouse issued these first prints in two editions comprising 150 signed prints and 600 unsigned prints.
The original portrait of Churchill, upon which this print was based, is known as The Roaring Lion. It was taken by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh on the 30th of December 1941, directly following a speech Churchill had delivered to the House of Commons at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. Considered one of the 20th century’s most significant political figures, Churchill is best remembered for his wartime triumphs rather than his involvment in colonial oppression. This irreverent Banksy print is all the more thought-provoking than The Roaring Lion given its pointed refusal to venerate Churchill in the way we are so used to seeing in the UK.
THE PAWN INDEX LONDON LTD (Company no. 14891966) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activities. Firm Reference Number 1003008. Registered office: 32 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8DL. Late re-payment can cause serious money problems, if you do not keep up with your repayments your goods could be at risk. For help, advice, or if you’re struggling to repay your pawnbroking loan, click here.