Banksy installs nativity scene at The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem
Banksy has installed a nativity scene at The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, titled 'Cicatrice di Betlemme' (Scar of Bethlehem). The artwork features a portion of the Israeli separation wall as the backdrop, with a grenade-shaped scar replacing the Star of Bethlehem. The wall bears faded graffiti messages of love, peace, and freedom in English and French. Hotel director Wissam Salsaa called it a 'scar of shame' meant to provoke reflection on the wall. The installation follows a busy 2019 for Banksy, including a mural in Birmingham depicting a homeless man as Santa Claus, a mural in Venice of a migrant child that was partially submerged during high tide, and a performance at the Venice Biennale where he set up an unauthorized stall selling paintings of cruise ships, criticizing both the Biennale and cruise ship traffic. The Walled Off Hotel, opened in 2017, is located just meters from the wall and offers what Banksy calls 'the worst view in the world.'
Key facts
- Banksy installed a nativity scene at The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem in December 2019.
- The artwork is titled 'Cicatrice di Betlemme' (Scar of Bethlehem).
- The nativity backdrop is the Israeli separation wall, with a grenade scar replacing the star.
- Hotel director Wissam Salsaa called the work a 'scar of shame.'
- In 2019, Banksy also created a mural in Birmingham of a homeless man as Santa.
- He created a migrant child mural in Venice that was partially submerged during high tide.
- At the Venice Biennale, he set up an unauthorized stall selling cruise ship paintings.
- The Walled Off Hotel opened in 2017 and is located 5 meters from the wall.
- The hotel receives only 25 minutes of direct sunlight daily.
- Banksy's works often critique political and social issues.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
Institutions
- The Walled Off Hotel
- Biennale d'Arte di Venezia
Locations
- Bethlehem
- Birmingham
- Venice
- Israel
- Palestinian territories
- Cisgiordania
- Campo Santa Margherita
- Dorsoduro
- Piazza San Marco
- Palazzo Ducale
- Canal Grande