Monkeys are a recurring motif in Banksy’s work, often used to satirise human behaviour and social structures. In Monkey Guns, the apes are depicted brandishing firearms an unsettling twist that underscores the absurdity and danger of power placed in the wrong hands.

The image recalls pop-cultural references such as Planet of the Apes, while also raising broader questions about authority, violence, and the blurred line between instinct and civilisation. With biting humour, Banksy transforms the monkeys into both a parody of human aggression and a warning about its consequences.