Very Little Helps began as a street art piece stenciled on the side of a pharmacy building along Essex Road in North London. Created in 2008, Banksy reproduced it the same year in a limited edition of 299 signed prints. The image in the print is reversed from its composition in the street art piece.

With a background of soothing pastel blue, black and white children pledge their allegiance to a Tesco flag, an emblem of modern day consumerism, instead of the symbol of the country as “imagined community.” The work is both ironic and real, indicating how the contemporary nation state is less of an influence in culture than giant corporations.

After the original had been vandalized several times, it is now covered in Perspex.

Here Banksy sends Tesco and their consumers up brilliantly in one of his best situationist pieces. A wire fixture is translated into a flagpole, in what could be a scene of “Breaking the Flag,” from the Boy Scouts movement ceremony, with a Tesco carrier Bag in lieu of the Union Jack. The Scouts, established at the height of the British Empire, traditionally hold a Flag Break at the start of important meetings. “The ceremony of “breaking” (that is to unfold a flag and hang it from a flagpole) the Union Flag …is a sign of respect and reminds us of our duty to Queen and ultimately our country,” states the Scouts’ manual. Interestingly, the hand on heart gesture is in fact from the US Pledge of Allegiance. This is, in fact, an empty gesture.

Here, three traditionally-dressed children pledge their allegiance to the supermarket. Our duty, Banksy almost chides us, is now just to consume; we’ve created children with no higher purpose…no sign of Queen and Country here. (Tapies, Xavier: Where’s Banksy?, Graffito Books Ltd., 2019)

In 2008 Banksy created “Very Little Helps” as a series of 299 signed prints. It was released as a lottery at Pictures on Wall’s first and only open day on December 6–7 that year, which included a tour of the factory, live printing sessions, graffiti activities, and a chance to win “Very Little Helps” for £350. The “Very Little Helps” lottery raised £24,406.61 – proceeds were donated to Sightsavers, the sight and disability rights charity.

Turf War T-shirt

2003