The World of Banksy show, which is hosted by the Mall of the Emirates in collaboration with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and overseen by Vardar Entertainment, continues to offer a rich visual experience for art enthusiasts, connoisseurs, interested discoverers, and Banksy fans of all ages.

The first-of-its-kind exhibition (April 5 - June 30) is devoted to the world-famous street artist and exhibits over 100 of his works spanning 1,500 square metres in the Art Centre at the Mall of the Emirates, which has been fully redeveloped and allocated to the unforgettable event.

Banksy is the name of an enigmatic artist whose street art and poetic stencils surround walls in big cities and capitals across the world, and also the graphic mural retrospective allows visitors to rekindle iconic artworks such as Girl with Balloon, The Flower Thrower, and Mobile Lovers, among many others.

Banksy's Girl with Balloon is as identifiable as the street artist is enigmatic. It's been seen on walls, in photographs, on the internet, including on the arm of a popular singer. It was first produced in London in 2002 when it was stenciled mostly on walls underneath Waterloo Bridge on London's Southbank. Another edition appeared upon on walls of a printing shop in Shoreditch, East London. Both stencils have since been lost, however, the illustration lives on.

The original Southbank stencil was followed by the quotation "There Is Always Hope." Many see Girl with Balloon as a sign of lost childhood, while others think the girl is going to release the balloon — in either case, Banksy reminds spectators to cling on to hope, even though it seems out of control. The painting portrays a young child, her hair and dresses swirling in the breeze, trying to grasp for or letting go a red, heart-shaped balloon that has fallen from her hands. The motion, along with the red balloon, a sign of childhood and independence, conveys a strong meaning that can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. If you see the girl lose or is about to grab the balloon, the message can be translated as a loss of childhood or the emergence of new hope and love.

Banksy has also modified versions of ‘Girl with Balloon’ to discuss political issues. In 2014, he produced a version of the girl wearing a headscarf to raise funds for Syrian refugees. Banksy's Flower Thrower stencil is one of his most well-known. It depicts a veiled Palestinian throwing a bunch of flowers. Banksy created the artwork on the 760-kilometer-long wall that divides Israel and Palestine. The man's facial expression and stance in the mural indicate hostile intentions.

However, by replacing a brick, or a Molotov cocktail, or a grenade with a bouquet, Banksy supports unity instead of terror. The place alone emphasizes the message. Banksy is a well-known pacifist and anti-war activist. Mobile Lovers was founded in Banksy's hometown of Bristol in 2014, and it gives the impression of the value of enjoying the moment. People nowadays are engulfed by electronics and live out their lives through their phones. However, living on a phone prevents them from having real-life connections. Banksy seems to believe in Mobile Lovers that people waste so much time on their phones and social media and that they somehow don't give bonding time to anyone they care for. The pair in the artwork appear to be giving attention to each other, but their concentration is certainly on their phones.

The World of Banksy has been hosted in Dubai for three months, with potential expansions, and has over 500,000 guests from five major European cities (Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Milano, and Brussels). The show has continued to draw crowds since its inception. It is consistent with the Authority's vision of enhancing Dubai's status as a global cultural hub, an incubator for innovation, and a flourishing platform for talent. External members, consisting of four young graduates in fine and decorative arts, will be exhibiting their work as part of the fair, which is a first for the global festival.

“Banksy” is an alias for a UK-based street artist, political activist, and movie director whose real name and origin are unknown.

His surreal street art and revolutionary epigrams, which he has been creating since the 1990s, combined with grim humor and graffiti done in a distinct stenciling process. His political and social criticism works have featured on sidewalks, walls, and bridges all around the world. Banksy's work evolved out of the Bristol underground scene, which included artist and musician partnerships. He has stated that 3D, a street artist and founding member of the musical group Massive Attack, influenced him.

He exhibits his work on publicly accessible surfaces such as walls and self-built physical prop parts.

A photography exhibition will also be hosted in Dubai. Philippe Bernaerts, a renowned Belgian photographer, will present a series of documentary photographs about streets and city spaces. For the first time, the sequence will be shown as a set, taking viewers on a tour from one city to the next, enabling the audience to gain experiences of city life around the world. Furthermore, as a debut, Bernaerts will be working on a photography project devoted to Dubai, which will also be seen for the first time in the exhibition.