Banksy's work is characterised by black humour and satire on the one hand, but also by political and sociological aspects on the other, which deal with current and explosive social issues. In his graffiti, paintings and screen prints, he criticises war, capitalism, hypocrisy and greed. With an unerring instinct, he puts his finger on the wound and captures the complexity of his themes with just a few elements of his stencilled works, always with an unmasking subtext.
Rats are one of the artist's main sources of inspiration - Banksy has depicted them in all possible variations and personifications, from humorous to socially critical. As an anagram of 'ART', Banksy uses the rat as a metaphor for the vices and failings of humanity, drawing attention to all those who have to live in precarious conditions at the margins of society.
Banksy's 3D Rat motif first appeared during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival on the rusty back door of the famous Egyptian Theater in Park City, Utah. In addition to the 3D rat, a number of other street art pieces also appeared on the occasion of the world premiere of the Banksy film "Exit Through The Gift Shop".
