Palestinians Stage Surprise ‘Thank You’ Event for Banksy in Bethlehem

PALESTINE - ISRAEL, 31 Aug 2020

Jessie McDonald | The Guardian - TRANSCEND Media Service

Photographs of works go on display in Manger Square to celebrate British street artist’s contribution to diversifying tourism.

The Banksy exhibition in Bethlehem.

Photographs of 20 pieces of Banksy’s artwork in Palestine were displayed.
Photograph: Murad Abusrour

21 Aug 2020 – Photographs of 20 pieces of Banksy’s artwork in Palestine have been displayed in the centre of Bethlehem as a thank you to the anonymous British street artist for helping diversify tourism in the city.

The images were collated by Palestinian photographers for the surprise exhibition in Manger Square.

Artists in Gaza carved the words “Thank you Banksy” in sand on a stretch of beach to coordinate with the exhibition. Four of Banksy’s artworks are in Gaza.

“Banksy always surprises us and today I want to surprise him,” said event coordinator Yamen Elabed in a video message to Banksy on Tuesday.

Elabed said he put together the exhibition “to show Banksy that we are grateful for the support”. “I just want the message of thanks to reach Banksy … he has helped our economy with ‘alternative’ tourism.”

Last month Banksy auctioned three paintings for £2.2m in London and donated the proceeds to a hospital in Bethlehem.

Artists in Gaza carved the words ‘Thank you Banksy’ in sand.
Artists in Gaza carved the words ‘Thank you Banksy’ in sand.
Photograph: Murad Abusrour

Ayoub Ali, a taxi driver who attended the exhibition, said the appearance of Banksy’s work had helped to diversify tourism in Bethlehem, a major pilgrimage destination.

“They [tourists] only know Bethlehem is where Jesus was born, the Church of the Nativity – which I am proud of – but Banksy’s idea is also to see where there are 3 million Palestinians living, in the West Bank.”

About 300 people visited the open-air exhibition. Almost all were local people, as the pandemic has meant far fewer tourists.

Each visitor was given a free face mask decorated with a Banksy print on arrival.

Visits to Bethlehem have ground to a halt during the pandemic, a devastating blow to the tourist-based economy, said Elabed. “This city relies on tourism. So many people are now out of a job, with the closing of hotels, souvenir shops, many restaurants, tour companies and a lack of work for tour guides like myself. We all are just waiting for tourism to return.”

Video message to Banksy, produced by Murad Abu Srour and Abedalrahman Hassan

Since his first artwork appeared in Palestine 15 years ago, Banksy has become a key part of the city’s tourist attractions – his Walled Off hotel famously claiming to offer the “worst view of any hotel in the world” to a stream of international guests since its opening in 2017.

Critics have accused Banksy of trivialising the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and providing an unwelcome distraction from the work of local artists. Both Palestinians and Israelis have criticised aspects of his art.

“I do appreciate deeply Banksy as an artist and love his work,” said Abdelfattah Abusrour, general director of Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, an arts organisation based in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.

But “some paintings seem naive, like the fight with pillows”, he said. “The fight was never between people as individuals, but against a system … as long as there is occupation and injustice such ‘declarations’ are irrelevant and non-respectful to the suffering of the oppressed.”

Abusrour added: “We didn’t receive a penny from the Walled Off hotel. I don’t like my cause as a Palestinian to be exploited as a business, even though I appreciate the work of Banksy.”

Still from ‘Message to Banksy’ video
Yamen Elabed, tour guide and owner the Wall Graffiti Gift Shop, hopes the message of thanks will reach Banksy. Photograph: Tours with Yamen

But visitors to the Bethlehem exhibition were enthusiastic about the artist’s involvement. “Thank you Banksy for supporting Palestinian people. Your art is much appreciated. And thank you Yamen for gathering us her here in this beautiful event,” said Amera Qumseya.

Elabed said the danger he believes Banksy put himself in when he first spray-painted the Israeli West Bank barrier warrants respect from Palestinians. “It was a risk because during the first uprising and second uprising drawing graffiti on the wall was forbidden. Many people got hurt or arrested for doing graffiti. So Banksy did a lot for Palestinians,” he said.

“We want to see him again in Palestine.”

________________________________________________

Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist, vandal, political activist, and film director, active since the 1990s. His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humor with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. Wikipedia

Jessie McDonald is acting deputy production editor on Guardian Foundations.

Go to Original – theguardian.com

 

Join the BDS-BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS campaign to protest the Israeli barbaric siege of Gaza, illegal occupation of the Palestine nation’s territory, the apartheid wall, its inhuman and degrading treatment of the Palestinian people, and the more than 7,000 Palestinian men, women, elderly and children arbitrarily locked up in Israeli prisons.

DON’T BUY PRODUCTS WHOSE BARCODE STARTS WITH 729, which indicates that it is produced in Israel. DO YOUR PART! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

7 2 9: BOYCOTT FOR JUSTICE!


Share this article:


DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.


Comments are closed.