West Bank Wall Art Child With Hands Behind Back West Bank Wall Art Child With His Back to Us

Covered with graffiti, the West Bank Barrier cuts off the town of Bethlehem from the residuum of State of israel. Completed in 2003 to huge worldwide controversy. Information technology'due south often referred to as the Separation wall. Banksy drew on information technology for the first time in 2005. His paradigm then of a couple of small children with saucepan and spades went viral. It showed them sitting next to a crevice in the wall through which could exist seen a beautiful sandy embankment.

Banksy tells the story of when he first painted the wall. A local human being commented on how beautiful he'd fabricated it. "We don't want information technology to be beautiful, we hate this wall" he added. "Become home". He did become home. But he came back. Visiting once again in 2007 with a bunch of local and international artists. They started to use the wall every bit a canvas. The concrete facade starting to take on a different identity. Slowly it's layers of intimidation were subconscious by layers of spray paint.

Banksy helicopter on the West Bank Barrier in Bethlehem — Graffiti on the wall. The helicopter epitome is i of Banksy'due south though it's non clear if he is the artist of this particular piece or if it'due south a copy

The Walled Off Hotel

At present the site plays host to the Walled Off Hotel. A collaboration between Banksy and Wisam Salsaa, the local man Banksy first met when he showed him around the first fourth dimension he visited in 2005. Wisam at present runs the hotel but is in regular contact with Banksy. His views he tells me, are very specific. Everything needs to exist a sure way. Banksy, it would seem, is quite the perfectionist.

The wall is now full of graffiti. All but the tiptop ends are covered. The watch towers which once would have bandage a bully eye over the Palestinian side, not quite as intimidating as they once were. Artists from around the world come up to paint. Ably helped by the fact that the Walled Off Hotel has provided a handy paint store next to the hotel. Look either side of the hotel and the art runs off into the distance.

Banksy's 'Er... Sorry' artwork on the separation barrier in Bethlehem — Er… Lamentable the slice created past Banksy on the wall to ironically commemorate the 100 twelvemonth ceremony of the signing of the Balfour declaration in 2017

Graffiti of the Wall

Banksy's work can exist seen nearby. His two cherubs float high up trying to prize open the wall whilst his 'Er… Lamentable!' piece remembers the anniversary of the Balfour Annunciation. Elsewhere his flower thrower has been re-created by an gentleman. The original is a little fleck further away. On the side of a machine wash closer to the town, information technology's get a tourist attraction in it'south own right.

The graffiti of the wall has go something to meet. Wisam Salsaa credits the fine art with bringing a whole new audience to this side of the barrier. Without the art, he says, a lot of people just wouldn't brand the journey. You can see what he means just past wandering around. Information technology's clear that the wall is alluring it'south off-white share of graffiti and Banksy tourists. People who perchance wouldn't accept made the trip had the Walled Off and the associated graffiti not been there.

Portrait of Ahed Tamimi on the West Bank Separation Barrier in Bethlehem — Graffiti on the W Banking concern Barrier in Bethlehem. The main image features Ahed Tamimi the Palestinian Girl jailed for slapping an Israeli soldier past Italian artist Jorit Agoch who was later arrested for his troubles. It as well partly shows an image of Razan Al Najjar, a paramedic nurse killed by an Israeli sniper during a protest in Gaza. That work is by Palestinian artist Taqi Spateen

Political Street Art and Activism

Information technology can still be dangerous of course. The wall is total of political art. All over are slogans and references to political events. Two Italian artists, Jorit Agoch and Salvatore De Luise , were arrested for vandalism after painting a huge mural of the Palestinian activist Ahed Tamini. Her face having become a symbol of Palestinian resistance after she was jailed for slapping an Israeli soldier. The ii had their visas revoked, told to leave the country and banned from visiting Israel for the next ten years.

A variety of other portraits and political art tin be seen on the wall. Razan Al Najjar, a paramedic nurse killed by an Israeli sniper during a protest in Gaza, is shown grin in her hospital uniform. A long continuing mural of Leila Khaled meanwhile can exist seen a little further away. A controversial figure, she was a member of the Popular Forepart for the Liberation of Palestine. She was the first adult female to hijack an plane and is shown grin and holding an assault rifle. Two very different examples of what people might deem to be Palestinian heroes.

Portrait of Razan Al Najjar on the separation wall

Street Art on the Wall

Other graffiti artworks can be seen on the West Bank barrier. Australian artist Lush Sux has in particular been very busy. His large calibration work can be seen all over. Targetting the likes of Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they are shown in satire often celebrating the wall. His 'Rick & Morty' cartoons can also be seen and he's transformed one of the watch towers into a behemothic pickle. He claims that one of the guards urinated on him from the window of the spotter belfry whilst he painted that particular piece.

More artists work can exist seen including a number of prominent locals. During our visit, a number of works from stencil artist 'Cake Stencils' could be spotted. Simple black and white silhouettes they show various images of life played out confronting the properties of the wall. Another Palestinian creative person, Taqi Spateen, has depicted Alice looking out through a little door painted onto the wall to the other side. 'Palestinians in Wonderland' it says.

Banksy's Dove of Peace on the West Bank Separation Barrier in Bethlehem — Banksy's 'Dove of Peace' can be seen next to a 'Welcome to Palestine' sign

Banksy Fine art on the West Bank

From farther afield there was also a piece from the Liverpool based 'Secret Guild of Super Villain Artists'. Their logo having been adjusted to include a 'Palestine Partitioning'. Banksy too has a number of works on the wall which we mentioned earlier. A little farther away, not quite on the wall but very close past, his famous dove of peace wearing a flack jacket welcomes people along the road into Bethlehem.

The wall remains controversial. Indeed at that place are a number of people who would rather no attention exist given it at all. Every bit the sometime man said to Banksy on his commencement visit, "we detest this wall". It's true that there is certainly a group who would discover it'southward tourist status disturbing. But then that's the catch. Visitors either who spend the night or who come up just for the day, can't assistance to take abroad some added noesis of the barrier. That's office of the reason why Banksy wanted to invest and then much in the hotel. Fifty-fifty if it's the graffiti that becomes the draw. This is almost learning and experiencing. Then in some pocket-size way, being able to take the stories away to the other side.

Bethlehem, the w bank barrier and the Walled Off Hotel were visited on 2nd and third January 2019. You can read more about the Walled Off Hotel hither.We are grateful to Laith Subeh from Star B Coffee in Manger Foursquare who took the time to prove the states effectually Bethlehem and to some of the best bits of the wall.