Emerging in 2010 on the wall of The Grange Pub in London’s Southwark, Choose Your Weapon is an iconic mural offering a critique of peace, resistance, and the power of street art.

The artwork depicts a hooded and masked young man holding Keith Haring’s famous “barking dog” figure on a leash. The hooded and masked young man, a recurring figure in Banksy’s work, represents marginalized youth and the “disaffected youth” culture in the UK. The dog, drawn in Haring’s characteristic cartoonish style with a flat silhouette and bold black outlines, adds a playful element.

The “barking dog” is a tribute to Keith Haring’s motif, which became popular in 1980s New York. Haring’s dog was a symbol of resistance against authoritarian regimes and power abuse. Banksy uses this motif to ironically reference the trend of youth gangs using aggressive dogs as weapons; however, the dog’s cartoonish appearance highlights art as an alternative “weapon” to violence. Referencing the proverb “The pen is mightier than the sword,” Banksy advocates graffiti as the most effective tool against social injustice.

With the title Choose Your Weapon, Banksy directly poses a question to the viewer: “What is your weapon, and what will you choose to fight for with it?” The piece invites viewers to choose peace and art over violence, while emphasizing the marginalization of youth culture and the spirit of resistance in street art.

In 2010, the UK saw widespread media coverage of youth gangs and the use of aggressive dogs as “weapons,” fueling discussions, particularly around the stigmatization and exclusion of young people in low-income areas. Southwark, with its mix of affluent gated communities and low-income neighborhoods, reflects the contradictions of urban conditions.

The mural was also released in 2010 as a limited-edition print; 25 colored and 100 gray prints were produced in 15 different color variations. On the release day, fights broke out among fans queuing at Pictures on Walls, underscoring the artwork’s popularity.