Banksy's Palestine Art: A Complete Guide from Bethlehem to Gaza

Banksy's engagement with Palestine spans over a decade, beginning in 2003 with 'Love Is in the Air' near Bethlehem and evolving through interventions on the West Bank barrier in 2005, a 2007 return to Bethlehem, and a 2015 series in Gaza, culminating in the 2017 opening of The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. The artist's work in the region is notable for its integration of location and image, using the separation wall and damaged buildings as both canvas and subject. The 2005 interventions, documented as 'holiday snaps,' included 'Window on the West Bank,' depicting a domestic interior with a view of an idyllic landscape, and images of children with balloons and ladders. In 2007, works such as 'Peace Dove,' 'Donkey Documents,' and 'Stop and Search' directly engaged with authority and checkpoints. The 2015 Gaza works, released with a satirical travel film, featured 'Gaza Kitty' and a grieving goddess, using the ruins as a backdrop. The Walled Off Hotel, described as having the 'worst view in the world,' combines accommodation, a museum, and a gallery for Palestinian artists. Several of Banksy's street works have been removed and sold, raising questions about the commercialization of site-specific art, as explored in the documentary 'Saving Banksy.'