Marc Pairon - WALLED OFF HOTEL ART EDITIONS - 2020

Please bid generously, as all proceeds from this auction will be donated to Direct Support for Families in Gaza (an initiative of the Charles Catteau Foundation).

This initiative provides direct humanitarian assistance to families in Gaza who are facing extremely difficult living conditions. The funds raised will be used to support basic needs such as food, medical care, and emergency relief.

This is a SIGNED 2nd edition by the Flemish author Marc Pairon set out to investigate and now uncovers the secrets of Banksy’s much-covered Walled Off art editions. Between 2017 and 2020, Banksy had a number of remarkable objets d’art issued in Palestine, aimed at drawing attention to the awkward living conditions of the Palestinian people. Until now, nobody knew how many different editions of these hand-painted multiples had been produced.

The Banksy phenomenon needs no further introduction. All over the world, he is currently the visual artist who gets the most attention in the press and is on everybody’s lips. His possible life story has already received extensive literary coverage, while most of his graffiti has been published many times.

In 2017, Banksy opened his The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, a living art installation with which he brings the Palestinian oppression up for discussion. After all, as a Social Artist he always sympathizes with the fate of mankind and acts – in all conscience and good faith – accordingly. Between 2017 and 2020, Banksy issued limited editions of miniature multiples of the dividing wall in Palestine, which were only available to guests staying at The Walled Off Hotel. Indeed, deliberately creating a scarcity is one of Banksy’s trademarks. The various shapes of the ‘souvenirs’ executed in polymer resin were created by Banksy himself, while he also supervised the graffiti decorations carried out by Palestinian artists. These decorations copy the graffiti that can be found on the Israeli barrier on the West Bank and include a number of iconic images by the grandmaster himself.

Until now, little to nothing is known about the the diversity of the Walled Off art editions and the quantities that were issued. Such secrecy is simply part of the Banksy myth, which is carefully cultivated by its guardians.

Street Art, Banksy, Verenigde Staten, Dismaland, Blek le rat, Brainwash, Basquiat, POP ART, WALLED OFF HOTEL, Christo, andy warhol, Palestina, Di Faced Tenner.