Brian Haw in front of the Banksy CND Soldiers painting displayed amongst the extensive Brian Haw peace camp placards facing Parliament. The painting shows two soldiers, one soldier painting the famous peace symbol in red, while the other soldier keeps a lookout. The work is by the elusive English street artist Banksy. Parliament Square, London, UK, 10/04/2006
Brian Haw (1949 - 2011) protested for almost ten years outside Parliament, living in an improvised peace camp in Parliament Square, London.
I used to drop in and take a look at Brian Haw’s demonstration, whenever I was in London. There was always something going on and something interesting to see. There were regulars who would be supporting Brian Haw’s peace protest. Many people visited his peace camp. It was a busy area, with tourists and visitors looking at the historic buildings, and also some were taking an interests in Brian Haw’s peace camp on Parliament Square, facing the House of Commons.
On the day that I took this photograph of Brian Haw in front of a Banksy painting, it was the second time I had visited him. The first time was, about a week earlier. Although Brian Haw was a heroic and tenacious peace campaigner, he was not always the most relaxing person to meet, but he had a sense of humour, and I always got on with him. The artist, Banksy was not then, quite as well known as he is now. He has gradually been getting famous over a long period of time. I was aware of him, but not thinking about him so much. Though I had unknowingly been admiring his street art for a long time, not knowing who the graffiti artist was. So when Brian, said: “Banksy has donated artworks to the demonstration”. I did not quite catch the drift of what Brian was saying and responded “What! Who?”, Brian, in a an art connoisseur theatrically shocked voice, answered, “You do not know who Banksy is!”
Brain Haw told me: "One evening two blokes approached me in Parliament Square. One of them said that they had been talking about me in the pub and had decided to do something for my peace protest. 'Got a couple of ideas for pictures for it!' A lot of people get ideas in the pub and nothing ever comes of it. However, some days later, they returned with two paintings which they installed amongst the other placards. Brian Haw showed me the painting in this photo, CND SOLDIERS, I asked if I could photograph him in front of it. Richard Keith Wolff, Parliament Square, Westminster, London, UK, 10/04/2006
Date: 10/04/2006
Location: Parliament Square, London, UK
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
