Notes

The present lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, dated 2014 and inscribed with the artist's name, the title and medium.

Bambi is the moniker of the anonymous London street artist famous for her gritty stencil and aerosol spray paint work. The name was born from her childhood nickname, ‘Bambino.’ She first began tagging in London, gaining visibility in 2010. Trained at Central Saint Martins, her street work can now be found throughout Central London, as well as the London Boroughs of Islington and Camden.

Initially hailed by the BBC commentator David Dimbleby as ‘the female Banksy,’¹ Bambi has evolved into her own unique brand of artist-provocateur, tackling themes of feminism, street violence, political injustice and popular culture with wit and irony. She often creates stencils of known contemporary figures to offer pointed social and political commentary. She has produced highly visible and public murals incorporating The Royal Family, Amy Winehouse, David Beckham and Ai Wei Wei.² Bambi's work has also captured the interest of numerous famous collectors, and her art has been exhibited globally, including in the retrospective Banksy & Street Art: The Early Years at MACA Museum, Copenhagen.

In the present lot, titled Tata Tata (Red), Bambi lends her style to a depiction of an elderly Nelson Mandela wearing a characteristically bright shirt, with his fist raised in salute. This is a unique variation on Bambi’s portrayal of Nelson Mandela and features the name he was lovingly known by across South Africa, "Tata", in the iconic green and gold associated with the Springboks. The work was produced the year after Mandela’s passing and is a tribute to a world leader who captured not only the hearts of South Africans but also the international community at large.

^1. London SE1 (2012) David Dimbleby Charity Auction to Support Cancer Care SE1, online, available, https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/6290, accessed 26 September 2023

^2. Bambi (no date) Artist Biography, online, available, https://streetartistbambi.com/about-bambi-street-artist/, accessed 26 September 2023

Provenance

Acquired directly from Leonard Villa, former manager and public representative of Bambi.

Private Collection.