Since the early 1900s, artistic activism has become a motif throughout the art world with work’s denotations and connotations intervening in politics, society and the economy. Ferdinand de Saussure introduced the terms ‘signified’ (denotation) and ‘signifier’ (connotation). (Chandler, 2019) The denotation of an image is what the audience sees at face value while the connotation is what the spectators determine from its signs and symbols. The semiotics and connotations in Banksy’s ‘Les Miserables’ reflect this notion by challenging public and political values
Banksy’s ‘Les Miserables’ is a world-renowned artwork that highlights the tragic political events which took place in Europe in 2016. The mural denotes a girl appropriated from the musical Les Miserables with tears flowing from her eyes as CS gas wafted towards her.
Although the denotation of the artwork can take someone off guard, it is laden with political signifiers. ‘Les Miserables’ is interactive with the placement of a QR code beneath the work.
If scanned, this code brings the audience to a video of French soldiers gassing and shooting rubber bullets upon a refugee camp in Calais, France. This artwork is a direct comment, challenging the French authorities attempts to bulldoze parts of the camp.
Moreover, the mural is placed across from the French embassy to place blame on the delegate. Suzanne Moore displays that “what Banksy is doing is overtly political”, reminding society that we have to fight for human rights and challenge the government on their policies. Despite Banksy’s artwork not making any explicit change to the policies in France and the treatment of refugees, it did create outrage from the public, resulting in protests and a heightened awareness of the issue at large. Consequently, it’s apparent how artworks and their semiotics can be used and influence politics.
Although this artwork contests the values of the French government concerning the treatment of refugees, it also acts as an example of how artworks and their semiotics can challenge political beliefs and thus inspire change around the world.
