The artwork titled “Parachuting Rat” was created by the renowned street artist Banksy in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. Employing the mediums of spray paint and stencil, this piece falls within the graffiti genre and is an exemplar of the street art movement.
The artwork depicts a rat parachuting downwards, executed using a simple yet striking stencil technique that illustrates the rat’s form with black paint. The parachute above the rat is similarly outlined, creating a visual narrative of the rat’s descent. The piece was rendered upon a brick wall, integrating seamlessly into its urban environment, characteristic of Banksy’s work which often utilizes existing city landscapes as canvases. The rat, a recurring motif in Banksy’s oeuvre, symbolizes various themes including survival, rebellion, and subversion, adding layers of meaning to this seemingly simple depiction.
