Banksy in Gaza

[Happyvalleyfan]

These murals are not new - he apparently got into Gaza in 2015, but his messages are still as relevant:

“Gaza is often described as ‘the world’s largest open air prison’ because no-one is allowed to enter or leave. But that seems a bit unfair to prisons – they don’t have their electricity and drinking water cut off randomly almost every day.” Banksy

https://www.graffitistreet.com/welcome-to-gaza-banksy-street-art-2015/

That art work could be worth a fortune. I wonder if it will end up in an Israeli museum.

Why would it end up in an Israeli museum?

Lost Banksy piece sprayed in Palestine reappears in Tel Aviv gallery | Israel | The Guardian

@Humdingerydoo Quite an interesting article. I'm not sure what Banksy makes of it.

@stormy4319trevor
"According to Koby Abergel, the Israeli art dealer who purchased the painting, Slingshot Rat was in the possession of Palestinians who kept it in private residences until earlier this year.
A partner at the Urban gallery, where the work is now being displayed, Abergel said he bought the Banksy from an associate in Bethlehem, and had no plans to sell it. He declined to disclose the sum he paid or identify the seller, but insisted on the deal’s legality."

Sounds like Palestinians took it and then smuggled it into Israel and sold it?

@Humdingerydoo I don't see that as the logical conclusion myself, no matter what the art dealer says!

That's alright, I am not even remotely surprised to see assumptions based on zero facts. That's what this whole board seems to be all about

@Humdingerydoo The painting was removed by unknown persons. The dealer has said it was kept by Palestinians in private residences and that he bought it from an 'associate.' Logical conclusion - we don't know who removed the painting or who the dealer obtained it from. Sorry, but you made a few assumptions about Palestinians smuggling it into Israel and selling it - I don't even know where you got the info for that assumption? It's certainly not in the article.

https://the8percent.com/artwork-of-the-week-banksy-in-gaza/

I thought the more obvious conclusion would be that the people who live in the region would be the ones to have removed it rather than someone else doing it seeing as the article says it was kept in a Palestinian residence? I am aware that you have very carefully not actually said what you think happened, yet you assume the events are not as stated. I find that interesting.

@Humdingerydoo The article does not say that. And the reason I don't say what I think happened is because I don't know. The article is clear that the event is mysterious and much is unknown, if you read it carefully. If you don't, you will make assumptions, as you have done.

The article says it was kept in Palestinian homes. So it was taken and kept in the Palestinian territories. The only mystery is how the smugglers got it in to Israel.

So says the dealer who bought the painting ...

Few more things from him
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/banksy-artwork-in-palestine-8989505/lite/

And more
https://streetartutopia.com/2023/10/18/street-art-by-banksy-in-gaza-palestine/

Well, the art dealer thinks it was kept in Palestinian homes, and this could be what he was told by his associate. The reality is we don't really know for sure the whole story of this painting, and it is an interesting one. Yes, it is also mysterious how it got into Israel.

I loved the kitten mural.

Apparently Banksy said that people in the internet are interested in cats- so he drew one to draw attention to Gaza!

Looks like we are - fortunately as a civilisation - not needing kittens to draw attention to the current plight of the Gazans.

Cats also have nine lives, and the Gazans will rise above the rubble. Quite clever really.

The Slingshot Rat- highlights the discrepancy in power between the Gazans and those oppressing them.

The art dealer may have paid for it, but it doesn’t make it legal. From the article-

“According to the 1954 Hague Convention governing cultural property to which Israel is a signatory, occupying powers must prevent the removal of cultural property from occupied territories.

It weighs 900lb and would have had to pass through at least one military checkpoint- yet the Israeli army not aware how it got into Israel 🙄

At least the Israelis can consider the David and Goliath struggle when they go and view it.

This video is very poignant- can only get a Twitter link:

https://x.com/SDGMasterglass/status/1727068302617591891?s=20

@Happyvalleyfan Here's the YouTube link of the video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/ILOTuSpmiks?feature=shared

💔

“Slingshot Rat passed at least one military checkpoint to reach Tel Aviv. Both the Israeli military and Cogat, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civilian governance in the West Bank, said they had no knowledge of the artwork or its journey”

Lol

Banksy must be rolling his eyes so hard. He makes these paintings for Gaza and one of them ends up in bloody Tel Aviv 😂

I can't believe they took an artwork showing the oppression of Palestinians and put it in an Israeli gallery! Banksy must be furious.

@Happyvalleyfan Yes, however the painting was removed and transported, the main point of the article is that it should have stayed in the WB I suppose!

Terrible behaviour, but in a way this gives the subject more light and scrutiny. Whoever did this has proved their contempt for Palestinians in the most visible way possible, and the world can see it.