Palestinian Artist Kicked Out of Banksy’s ‘Dismaland’ for Protesting Israeli Participation in Exhibit
Error: Contact form not found.
by Ruthie Blum
A Palestinian artist was kicked off the premises of a new “bemusement park” exhibit in Britain for protesting the presence of Israeli artists, the London-based, English-language edition of Al-Araby al-Jadeed reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, Shadi Alzaqzouq was escorted off the grounds of “Dismaland,” and told his paintings would be removed, after he placed a bed sheet over his work — with “R.I.P Gaza: Boycott Israel” written on it in coal – and laid it down “like a corpse” in front of his display.
He did this, he said, because he had not been informed by the event’s organizers that Israeli artists would be present.
Dismaland, a dark parody of Disneyland, set up Friday at the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare, is the brainchild of British graffiti artist Banksy, whose real name remains a secret, but whose left-wing political activism, including open advocacy for Palestinians, is well-known.
In August 2005, Banksy painted nine pieces of graffiti on the security barrier erected between Israel and the Palestinian territories to keep Palestinian suicide bombers and other terrorists from easy access to Israeli civilians. Among these was a picture of Palestinian children trying to dig through the wall.
Alzaqzouq, thus, was surprised at the lack of sympathy his outrage at participating in a show along with Israeli counterparts elicited – particularly from Banksy, whom he described as “my hero for a long time.”
He told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that when he inquired about why his actions elicited such a harsh response, he was informed by Holly Cushing, believed to be Banksy’s manager, that his form of protest was too “ugly.”
According to Alzaqzouq — born to Palestinian parents in Benghazi, who lived in Libya, Gaza and Egypt before settling in France in 2007 — Cushing also said that an American art collector was interested in purchasing his pieces, “And that America and Israel were one and the same.”
The story does not end here, however. After the incident, Dismaland organizers did not take down Alzaqzouq’s pieces. Instead, they posted a sign on the display that reads: “The artist has decided to cover his work to protest being exhibited alongside artists from Israel. We are hoping to resolve the situation as soon as possible and apologise for any disappointment.”
European Parliament Slams Iran Over Surge in Executions, Brutal Repression
Leading Demography Expert Says Israel Expected to Hit 50% of Global Jewish Population as Early as 2035
Germany Charges Two Iran-Backed Operatives Over Plot to Kill Jewish Leaders
Irish PM Seeks EU-Israel Trade Review After Gaza Flotilla ‘Abduction,’ President Says She’s ‘Proud’ of Sister Aboard
Board of Peace Publishes Roadmap for Gaza Peace Plan
Vermont Police Investigate Anti-Israel Vandalism of Jewish-Owned Store as Possible Hate Crime
Giuliani Says Mamdani Has ‘Hatred’ for Jews for Declining to Attend Israel Day Parade in New York City
Supreme Leader Says Enriched Uranium Must Stay in Iran, Iranian Sources Say
Mediator Pakistan Pushes to Get US-Iran Peace Talks on Track
Turkey Court Ousts Opposition Leader in Latest Blow to Erdogan’s Challengers






Why Do We Read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot?
Shavuot and the Enduring Genius of Sinai
The Limits of Campus Solidarity: Why Are Some Issues Seemingly Ignored By Campus Activists ?
Antisemitism and ‘The End of History’ That Never Came to Pass
Turkey Court Ousts Opposition Leader in Latest Blow to Erdogan’s Challengers



