Golf Sale is almost entirely identical to the Tiananmen Square Tank Man photograph taken by Jeff Widener in 1989, sometimes called the Unknown Protester. The incident it portrays took place in the aftermath of the Chinese military’s violent suppression of the ’89 Democracy Movement. The man stands defiantly in front of a line of tanks attempting to block their path through Beijing. The photograph is an iconic image of the 20th century and it is widely considered to be one of the most notable acts of nonviolent intervention in history. Painted in black and white, the protester stands in front of three imposing tanks, but in his hand there is a sign that reads GOLF SALE in the style of the placards often seen around London’s Oxford Street. With this work, Banksy pays tribute to the ones who dare to stand up to authority.
