Title: Stop & Search

Artist: West Country Prince

Size:  H 70cm x W 50cm

Media: Screen Print on 300 GSM 

Featuring Dorothy, the protagonist of beloved book and film The Wizard of Oz, Banksy’s Stop & Search print is characteristic of the street artist’s biting wit.

Here Dorothy is shown having her wicker basket searched by a uniformed police officer in a satirical take on the controversial stop and search legislation first introduced by the UK government in the 80s and more recently criticised by much of the left for its unfair targeting of ethnic minorities.

Printed in black and white except for the blue of the policeman’s disposable gloves, the print shows Dorothy in her now iconic gingham dress, her face showing a look of concern at the man rummaging through her picnic basket. Played by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, Dorothy is a typical female character of early to mid 20th century Hollywood films, portrayed as harmless and naive whose catchphrase ‘there’s no place like home’ represents her childhood innocence. This is only reinforced by the presence of her little terrier Toto who represents further celebrated values of loyalty and companionship. Here Banksy subverts those traditional associations with the introduction of the officer clad in riot gear, intent on finding contraband items.

Produced using the exact methods as the early works. Silk screen printed by hand onto the correct original 300 GSM cartridge paper, to the correct specification. This is not a digital re-print.

They are the correct dimensions and colours as the Banksy Stop & Search screen print – size is 700 x 500 mm

They are stamped on the reverse with The West Country Prince logo, to prevent being sold on the market as anything other.

About the Artist: The mysterious West Country Prince produces correct replicas of Banksy's most famous screen prints, where possible using the same techniques and materials.

Each limited edition screen print is made using the exact same methods as Banksy's early works. They are hand pulled screen prints using the same paper as the original Banksy artworks.

With Banksy's Pest Control organisation clamping down on any copyright abuse of Banksy imagery, the fact that West Country Prince also know as WCP, has been allowed to sell these pieces on eBay for years, has prompted speculation that he or she, is an old friend of the street artist.. or even the artist himself? 

The hand pulled process does induce some slight variation, however the colours and dimensions are accurate to the original piece.