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Game Changer, created by the elusive graffiti artist Banksy, first made its appearance in the foyer of Southampton General Hospital during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the artwork, the artist left a heartfelt note for the hospital staff which read: "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white."
The monochrome painting, which measures one square meter, portrays a young boy dressed in dungarees and a T-shirt, kneeling beside a wastepaper basket. He has set aside his Spiderman and Batman model figures in favor of his new hero, an NHS nurse. Highlighted in the painting, the nurse's arm is extended forward resembling Superman on a mission. She is depicted wearing a facemask, a nurse's cape, and an apron adorned with the Red Cross emblem, the only colored element in the entire piece.
Banksy created two versions of Game Changer. While one remains at Southampton General Hospital, the second was put up for auction at Christie's, where it set a new record for the artist. The hammer price was £14.4 million, and with additional fees, the total figure reached £16.8 million. Christie's announced that it would donate "a significant portion" of its premium, ensuring that more than £16 million would benefit the Southampton Hospitals Charity.
