Banksy - Monkey Parliament and the Di-Faced Tenner: Where does Power lie?

Banksy has a knack for holding up a mirror we’d rather not look into. Two of his sharpest reflections are Monkey Parliament and the Di-Faced Tenner. Both pieces are funny at first glance, but the longer you sit with them, the more they get under your skin.

Monkey Parliament: Politics as a Zoo

Created in 2009, Monkey Parliament shows the House of Commons taken over by chimpanzees. It’s a ridiculous image, but that’s the point. Banksy doesn’t need to lecture when he can make the joke land in a single frame. The painting resurfaced in headlines during the Brexit years, as people started reading it less as a joke and more as a grim observation.

The Di-Faced Tenner: A Counterfeit With Something to Say

The Di-Faced Tenner is quieter but just as sharp. Banksy printed spoof £10 notes replacing the Queen with Princess Diana, then slipped them into circulation during a 2004 stunt. For a moment, people weren’t sure what they were holding: money or mockery. The piece pokes at everything from celebrity worship to how easily we trust the symbols of authority printed on our currency.

Why These Works Still Hit Home

What ties these two together is Banksy’s talent for making art that sticks in your mind long after the punchline. Whether you’re into political art, pop-culture satire, or just curious why these pieces get so much attention, Monkey Parliament and the Di-Faced Tenner show exactly why Banksy remains one of the most compelling artists working today.