Banksy unveils ‘Scar of Bethlehem’ nativity scene in the Walled Off Hotel, Palestine

A new Christmas-themed artwork dubbed the "Scar of Bethlehem" by secretive British artist Banksy is displayed at his Walled-Off Hotel in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank Afp Published: 06:14 EST, 21 December 2019

A manger scene juxtaposed against concrete blocks seemingly pierced by a mortar shell: with Christmas looming, the latest Bethlehem offering by secretive artist Banksy appeared Saturday in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Dubbed the "Scar of Bethlehem", the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph are backlit through damaged concrete, chiseled pockmarks exploding out from a gaping hole in four directions to approximate the Christmas Star.

The work is installed at Banksy's Walled-Off Hotel, where all rooms overlook a concrete section of the barrier built by Israel to cut off the occupied West Bank from Israeli territory.

"Love" and "peace" are respectively graffiti tagged in English and French on the artistic installation's concrete blocks, while three large wrapped presents are at the forefront of the scene.

"It is a nativity," the hotel's manager Wissam Salsaa told AFP after the piece was installed. "Banksy has his own contribution to Christmas."

"It is a great way to bring up the story of Bethlehem, the Christmas story, in a different way -- to make people think more" of how Palestinians live in Bethlehem.

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Banksy unveils ‘Scar of Bethlehem’ nativity mural

Banky’s latest piece — his take on a nativity scene — has been unveiled at his hotel in Bethlehem.

The “Scar of Bethlehem” artwork features a nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus – but instead of a star hanging over the crib, there is what appears to be a large bullet hole piercing an imposing grey wall.

The piece has appeared in the Walled Off Hotel, Banksy’s property which overlooks the border wall in the divided city.

The Walled Off Hotel (Dusan Vranic/AP)

Opened two years ago, the hotel is billed as having “the worst view of any hotel in the world” and is filled with original Banksy artwork.

The highlight is room number three, known as “Banksy’s Room”, where guests sleep in a king-size bed underneath Banksy’s artwork showing a Palestinian and an Israeli having a pillow fight.

The artist is known for making political statements with his graffiti, and has made previous forays into the Palestinian territories.

In one secret visit, he drew a girl being pulled upwards by balloons on the dividing wall, and he is believed to have sneaked into Gaza to draw four street murals, including one on a metal door that depicted the Greek goddess Niobe cowering against the rubble of a destroyed house.

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