Banksy's Palestine Murals: A Chronology from Bethlehem to Gaza
Banksy's connection to Palestine stretches back more than ten years, starting with 'Love Is in the Air' in Bethlehem in 2003. This was followed by nine stenciled pieces on the West Bank barrier in 2005, a revisit to Bethlehem in 2007, and creations in Gaza in 2015. His artistic journey in the area reached a peak with the establishment of The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem in 2017, which includes a museum, installations, and a gallery dedicated to Palestinian artists. His murals frequently use visual symbols like windows, ladders, and balloons to explore themes of confinement and escape, while later works such as 'Donkey Documents' and 'Stop and Search' challenge authority. In Gaza, pieces like 'Gaza Kitty' emerged alongside a satirical travel film. The Walled Off Hotel has also produced collectible items, including sculptures of wall sections and a box set, turning his public art into private merchandise. Some original pieces, like 'Stop and Search' and 'Slingshot Rat', have been taken from their initial locations, prompting discussions about the commercialization of street art.
Key facts
- Banksy's first Palestine work, 'Love Is in the Air', appeared in the Bethlehem area in 2003.
- In 2005, Banksy created nine stenciled interventions on the Palestinian side of the West Bank barrier.
- Banksy returned to Bethlehem in 2007 for the Santa's Ghetto exhibition, producing works like 'Peace Dove' and 'Donkey Documents'.
- In 2015, Banksy created works in Gaza, including 'Gaza Kitty' and a grieving goddess, released with a satirical travel film.
- The Walled Off Hotel opened in Bethlehem in 2017, described as having the 'worst view in the world'.
- The Walled Off Hotel Box Set, based on a Gaza mural, was released exclusively through the hotel.
- Wall-section sculptures featuring motifs like 'Peace Dove' and 'Donkey Documents' were created as collectables.
- Original works 'Stop and Search' and 'Slingshot Rat' were removed from their original locations and sold.
- The International Court of Justice in 2004 ruled the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory contrary to international law.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
Institutions
- The Walled Off Hotel
- GraffitiStreet
- International Court of Justice
Locations
- Bethlehem
- Palestine
- West Bank
- Gaza
- Beit Sahour
- Jerusalem
- Tel Aviv
- Israel