Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “What Wars Are For”
Summary
A metallic-gold peace symbol set against solid black, its lines built not from clean strokes but from densely layered graffiti-style tags spelling out the names of arms manufacturers, defense contractors and war-related words, with gold paint dripping from the base of the circle. The universal peace emblem is constructed entirely from the language of the war machine, a characteristic D*Face inversion that turns a recognizable icon against itself to indict the business of conflict.
Why It Matters
The piece collapses two opposing symbols into one: the 1958 peace sign, shorthand for anti-war idealism, is rebuilt out of the corporate vocabulary of the defense industry, so that peace and profit-driven war become visually inseparable. It sits in the lineage of agitprop and culture-jamming street art, using a single instantly-read icon to make its argument without text-as-slogan. Within D*Face's catalog it is a less cartoonish, more directly political statement than his D*Dog or comic-lover imagery, showing him working in pure graphic protest mode rather than pop parody.
Collector Perspective
A screen print in an edition of 100 from 2007, placing it in D*Face's sought-after early street period before his market broadened. The gold-on-black palette gives it strong wall presence, and overtly political subjects with a clean iconic image tend to hold collector interest better than minor throwaway designs. It is not among his most reproduced motifs (no D*Dog or skull), which cuts both ways: distinctive and uncrowded, but with a smaller pool of comparable sales to anchor value. A mid-tier edition size for the artist, it competes with his other 2006-2008 prints rather than commanding the premiums of his rarest releases.
Historical Context
Produced in 2007, during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the era when British street art (Banksy, D*Face, StolenSpace's roster) was moving from walls into the gallery and print market. The work draws on the 1958 Gerald Holtom peace symbol and the visual language of graffiti tagging, repurposing both to attack the arms trade. It belongs to D*Face's Early Street Era, when his output leaned more directly toward political and consumerist critique.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A large peace symbol in metallic gold on a black ground, with its lines made up of layered graffiti-style text naming arms manufacturers and war-related words, and gold paint dripping from the bottom of the circle. The peace emblem is literally built from the language of the war industry.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 100.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, produced in 2007.
Is it signed and numbered?
D*Face limited-edition prints are typically hand-signed and numbered by the artist, though signature and numbering should be confirmed for this specific impression before purchase.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is British street artist Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a pop-art provocateur known for defacing comic, advertising and celebrity imagery with motifs like the winged-eyed D*Dog and grinning skulls, satirising consumerism, power and fame. He co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London.
Related Works
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a leading figure in British street art. He came up pasting stickers and posters across London in the early 2000s, then built a pop-fuelled visual language that defaces comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity iconography. Recurring motifs include his winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers. His practice spans screenprints, hand-painted multiples, sculpture and large-scale murals worldwide, and he co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London. His work satirises consumerism, power and our collective obsession with fame.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic D*Face prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of D*Face prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new D*Face prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across D*Face and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.