One room at the Banksy hotel please

The Walled Off hotel is a place that I would stay in an instant. Just opened in Bethlehem, it overlooks the barrier separating Palestinian Territories from Israel. It’s a hotel that some people think has the worst view in the world.

I’ve said it in many of my posts, but street art is one of the most important social tools that we have. It gives a voice and visual identity to topics or controversial issues that people shy away from. Banksy is easily one of the most important artists of our generation and branching into a hotel venture in the hope to draw tourists and visitors to this turbulent conflict zone and with extremely strict travel controls, it is definitely a strong political stand by the artist.

It’s full of his artwork and has controversial items like a classical bust smothered in tear gas, cheetahs lounging on a zebra-print sofa and a flickering fire in a grate under piles of rubble. Banksy has visited the area before and depicted his famous murals along the wall. There is also a gallery in the hotel showing the work of Palestinian artists who often find it difficult to travel.

With talk of new walls and deepening divisions in American society, it’s refreshing to see the power of art confronting the divisiveness of physical architecture. It’s interesting to read about his hotel after visiting Belfast so recently and to see all of the work that they are doing to take down the peace walls. They may be quick to go up, but it takes generations of work, negotiation and stable peace to even approach the idea of removing physical barriers. I applaud anyone who draws attention to this issue and Banksy has a voice that travels.