It is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. An alternative title perhaps?

This striking image of a young boy on his knees, can of open paint and used brush aside, with a dripping painted halo above his capped head, could very well be a young Banksy. Some graffitists and street artists place their tags, works and murals on walls and spaces without permission, which is seen by some, as an act of vandalism. Here, the artist seems to acknowledge this, begging for understanding and compassion.

The original version of this image was painted in January 2010 in Salt Lake City, USA, a little over 30 miles away from the Sundance Film Festival, where Exit Through The Gift Shop premiered later that week. 

This version, a limited-edition 59cm x 42cm offset lithographic poster, is in fact double-sided. The verso features a poster for Banksy’s Oscar-nominated mockumentary ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ and was exclusively released by student organisation Don’t Panic, to promote the film release across the UK. It was made available for free in an envelope pack from selected Don’t Panic partners, gigs and club events at the time.