Banksy
Di-Faced Tenner, 2004
Offset Lithograph
3 x 5 in
7.6 x 12.7 cm
7.6 x 12.7 cm
Edition of 6
Series: Di-Faced Tenner
Copyright The Artist
Banksy’s Di-Faced Tenner was released and published in 2004 by Pictures on Walls as a small, signed version of 50 and a pink version of 32. The work is one of Banksy’s overtly most anti-monarchy and anti-establishment pieces that questions both the role of the monarchy, the deification of public figures and the value of both life, death and money in our society. Replacing Queen Elizabeth’s face on the £10 bank note is Princess Diana who is "defacing" the traditional banknote, hence the name "Di-Faced" which plays on the nickname "Di" for Diana; The powerful work also replaces the traditional text found on the UK banknote with both comic and harrowing phrases including “Banksy of England and “I Promise To Pay The Bearer The Ultimate Price”. Following the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997, the outpouring of public grief displaying in the United Kingdom was and has never been surpassed. Diana’s death rocked the establishment and the public, angry at the perceived mistreatment of “the people’s princess” leading to a increase in anti-monarchy sentiment. Famously, Banksy took to the streets with individual Di-Faced Tenners and at Glastonbury Festival and in a busy part of central London, released over £1,000,000 worth of the fake notes causing havoc. The Di-Faced Tenner still lives on in Banksy lore and is used by Pest Control Office as part of their Certificates of Authenticity, ripped up, one half is stapled to the important document whilst the other is kept securely with the company. When the two sides match, along with the number written across, the work is confirmed to be genuine.
Banksy's "Di-Faced Tenner" is a well-known and provocative artwork that showcases the artist's penchant for subversion and his critique of societal norms and institutions. Created in 2004, this piece is a play on the traditional design of the British £10 note. Instead of featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Banksy replaced her image with that of the late Princess Diana, hence the pun in the title "Di-Faced" as a play on "defaced."
In this counterfeit banknote, Princess Diana's portrait is accompanied by the text "Banksy of England" instead of the "Bank of England," adding an additional layer of humor and audacity. The traditional wording on the note is also altered. For example, "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of ten pounds" is changed to "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the ultimate price." This alteration can be interpreted as a commentary on the cost of fame and the role of the monarchy in modern Britain.
The choice of Princess Diana for the banknote is particularly poignant, given her iconic status and the public's emotional response to her life and untimely death. By placing her on the currency, Banksy may be commenting on the commodification of figures in popular culture, especially those within the British monarchy, and the way in which they are consumed by the public and media.
"Banksy's Di-Faced Tenner" is not just a visual piece but also a physical object. Banksy reportedly printed a large number of these counterfeit notes and famously dropped a suitcase full of them at the Notting Hill Carnival and at the Reading Festival, leading to a brief period where they were circulated and used like real money by unsuspecting individuals. This act of distribution adds a performative aspect to the artwork, blurring the lines between art and reality.
In terms of technique, the piece is a high-quality print that mimics the look and feel of real currency, demonstrating Banksy's skill and attention to detail. The "Di-Faced Tenner" is considered an important work in Banksy's portfolio, exemplifying his ability to combine art, social commentary, and performance to create pieces that are thought-provoking, humorous, and critical of societal structures and norms.
In this counterfeit banknote, Princess Diana's portrait is accompanied by the text "Banksy of England" instead of the "Bank of England," adding an additional layer of humor and audacity. The traditional wording on the note is also altered. For example, "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of ten pounds" is changed to "I promise to pay the bearer on demand the ultimate price." This alteration can be interpreted as a commentary on the cost of fame and the role of the monarchy in modern Britain.
The choice of Princess Diana for the banknote is particularly poignant, given her iconic status and the public's emotional response to her life and untimely death. By placing her on the currency, Banksy may be commenting on the commodification of figures in popular culture, especially those within the British monarchy, and the way in which they are consumed by the public and media.
"Banksy's Di-Faced Tenner" is not just a visual piece but also a physical object. Banksy reportedly printed a large number of these counterfeit notes and famously dropped a suitcase full of them at the Notting Hill Carnival and at the Reading Festival, leading to a brief period where they were circulated and used like real money by unsuspecting individuals. This act of distribution adds a performative aspect to the artwork, blurring the lines between art and reality.
In terms of technique, the piece is a high-quality print that mimics the look and feel of real currency, demonstrating Banksy's skill and attention to detail. The "Di-Faced Tenner" is considered an important work in Banksy's portfolio, exemplifying his ability to combine art, social commentary, and performance to create pieces that are thought-provoking, humorous, and critical of societal structures and norms.