After his 2015 Dismaland, Banksy hits again and opens “The hotel with the Worst View in the world” in Bethlehem!
We often feel untouched by the problems of others. Regularly watching genocides on the news turn us numb and unfortunately disconnected. Most of us know the feeling of being moved by a work of art, whether it is a song, a play, a poem, a novel or a painting. It always takes an artist to roll the dice and engage whoever has forgotten those who are suffering.
Few are the ones who take the next step to show us that there are still people out there in Palestine mourning for hope. And Banksy, the world-famous, but anonymous, graffiti artist political activist and film director has always been one of them. This powerful artist of unverified identity, strikes again launching his first ever self-funded hotel with “the worst view in the world”.
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The lodging in Bethlehem is a hotel, museum, protest and gallery all in one, packed with the artworks and angry wisdom of its owner. The hotel sits in Area C, a portion of the West Bank under Israeli control. That means both Israelis and Palestinians are allowed to visit.
Almost every window from the “Walled Off Hotel” opens up to a 30-foot wall of concrete: a graffiti painter haven! The 10-room Walled Off Hotel — built in the style of a colonial club, and will open for bookings on the 20th of March.
Each room has its own exceptional style. One room is painted to look like the guest is encircled by concrete walls, and yet somehow, the room still manages to feel relaxing and comfortable. Another room feels like an army barracks — furnished with bunk beds with foot lockers. The presidential suite, complete with its own mini-theater, study, and bar, also has a luxurious Jacuzzi. But the water for the Jacuzzi comes from what appears to be a water tank speckled with bullet holes. Yet, no amount of luxury can shield guests from the ever-present wall which fills the view from all of the windows and the balcony.
Instead of the gym, Banksy designed a museum. At the entrance to the museum sits a lifelike figure of former British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour famous in Arab countries with his “Promise” or the Balfour Declaration of 1917 expressed the UK’s support for establishing a “national home for the Jewish people” in British-mandate Palestine. And here we go; the most hated figure we studied about in school has a face now. But this reminds us of Brexit; and show us what happens when the United Kingdom makes a huge political decision without fully comprehending the consequences.
In one of the communal rooms of the hotel, two artificial goldfish float in separate fish bowls, just out of reach of each other. In the bar area of the hotel, a piano is situated under paintings of baby angels, falling as they attempt to breathe from airplane oxygen masks.
This hotel clearly speaks what all Arabs want to say: “ENOUGH ALREADY!”
