Gauntlet Gallery — D*Face Print Index
What Wars Are For
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"What Wars Are For" (WW4), also known as "Fool's Gold," is a 2007 silkscreen from Stolen Space in a signed edition of 75. Printed on gold paper at 100 x 70 cm, its metallic ground amplifies the ironic, greed-and-conflict theme. It is one of D*Face's more overtly anti-war statements from the period.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Description : Signed edition of 75. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The gold-paper substrate is the conceptual hinge: it literalises the "Fool's Gold" nickname and ties warfare to profit. As a Stolen Space release, it also documents D*Face's relationship with the East London gallery he co-founded, giving the print institutional significance beyond its imagery.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 75 keeps this relatively scarce, and the gold paper is the defining feature collectors should inspect, as metallic stocks show scuffs, fingerprints and light damage readily. Its dual identity as "WW4" and "Fool's Gold" means catalogue cross-referencing matters when sourcing. Signed, well-preserved examples on unmarked gold stock are the goal.
Historical Context
Stolen Space Gallery, co-founded by D*Face on Brick Lane, became a hub for the urban-contemporary movement from 2005 onward. This 2007 print reflects the mid-2000s wave of protest-inflected street art responding to ongoing conflicts. The gold-leaf-adjacent aesthetic connects to a broader trend of luxury materials used ironically in the genre.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2007
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 100 x 70 cm; Medium : Silkscreen print on gold paper.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Description : Signed edition of 75.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats D*Face's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Stolen Space Gallery, co-founded by D*Face on Brick Lane, became a hub for the urban-contemporary movement from 2005 onward. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2007 and attributes the edition to Stolen Space.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Stolen Space. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- D*Face — official site — D*Face studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- D*Face — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- D*Face (Q5203218) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Why is it called 'Fool's Gold'?
The print is silkscreened on gold paper, and the nickname underscores its ironic linkage of war to greed and false riches.
What is 'WW4'?
WW4 is the work's alternate title, short for the full name "What Wars Are For."
Who published it?
Stolen Space, the East London gallery D*Face co-founded, in a signed edition of 75.
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