Laugh Now

Laugh Now is one of Banksy’s most thought-provoking and widely celebrated works, originally commissioned for a Brighton nightclub in 2002. The piece features a row of chimpanzees, each wearing a sandwich board that reads: “Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge.” On the surface, the imagery feels playful — even humorous — but beneath the wit lies a razor-sharp critique of power, society, and human arrogance.

The chimpanzee, historically used in art and popular culture to represent something primal, “less evolved,” or comedic, is turned into a symbol of rebellion. Banksy flips the narrative: the creatures we laugh at today may one day rise above us. The phrase on their boards feels like a prophecy — a reminder that every hierarchy can be overturned, and that those underestimated or marginalized might hold the future in their hands.

For the art community, Laugh Now is a cornerstone of early 2000s street art, encapsulating the blend of satire, social commentary, and stark simplicity that defined Banksy’s rise. Its stark monochrome design and haunting repetition of figures are emblematic of the artist’s ability to take familiar imagery and elevate it into universal critique. Collectors and critics alike consider Laugh Now to be one of Banksy’s most influential works, a piece that cemented his voice as more than just a graffiti artist — but a cultural commentator.