Banksy - The Walled Off Hotel ★★★

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 18:24:39 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Mar 3, 2017 18:18:46 GMT 1 nobokov said:

Interesting question. How would you define Banksy and what does he need to keep doing to stay on track with your definition of Banksy?

Banksy sure didn't start off as what he does now.

Banksy is a conglomerate now.

Bigger, richer, larger than life isn't always better. Especially when so much of your identity and success was the complete opposite.

I don't think I understand. Did Banksy have a mission statement which stated that his artwork was to serve a particular purpose? Is he a philanthropist?

Kinda feels like when Obama was first elected and the masses attached liberal ideologies to him, just because he's a minority. It turned out that he wasn't the liberal that they projected him to be.

I feel like Banksy's cult status seems to stem from his hidden identity. And this anonymous character that he/she created, built up the notoriety through his actions and was fueled by the celebrity/tabloid culture of today. Would people be as enamored with him if he revealed his identity and started selling all of his artwork at walmart?

[Dr Plip]

Mar 3, 2017 18:36:25 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

The success will really depend on the boost to tourism as many state. Hypothetically this sounds great.

How much will these rooms cost? I'm assuming it won't be cheap.

So it could become art for the elite to go visit who will ignore the surrounding area and surrounding problems.

For everyone else it will be a series of pictures no more successful (arguably less successful) then the balloon girl across the street.

If this hotel can milk money from wealthy folk, then redistribute it to more worthy folk/causes, and at the same time make people look at/experience a situation that they might otherwise not be exposed to, then awesome.

[Art Fan 2011]

Flights from London around £200 so not bad, will be a very expensive trip for our American pals! Definately guna try get a room at the inn, although I suspect demand may be a little on the high side!

[Rouen Cathedral]

Mar 3, 2017 18:54:48 GMT 1 bonesy said:

Mar 3, 2017 18:24:39 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Banksy sure didn't start off as what he does now.

Banksy is a conglomerate now.

Bigger, richer, larger than life isn't always better. Especially when so much of your identity and success was the complete opposite.

He has newe means to bring attention to issues in creative ways. Back in the day he used the means he had and he is doing the same now. You say this stuff as if he's sitting on a throne and doing this to stroke his ego, I don't come away with that at all.....

Haters gonna hate.

"Haters gonna hate"

That says enough to me about your motivation. I'm not 'hating'. It's a shame that any critique of banksy is meant with "haters gonna hate"...


To me that's the complete opposite of what banksy stood for and what made him great. The critique of the art world in which if you didn't agree what others told you then you were wrong.

[Rouen Cathedral]

Mar 3, 2017 19:00:09 GMT 1 nobokov said:

Mar 3, 2017 18:24:39 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Banksy sure didn't start off as what he does now.

Banksy is a conglomerate now.

Bigger, richer, larger than life isn't always better. Especially when so much of your identity and success was the complete opposite.

I don't think I understand. Did Banksy have a mission statement which stated that his artwork was to serve a particular purpose? Is he a philanthropist?

I feel like his cult status seems to stem from his hidden identity. And this anonymous character that he/she created, built up the notoriety through his actions and was fueled by the celebrity/tabloid culture of today. Would people be as enamored with him if he revealed his identity and started selling all of his artwork at walmart?

They should be of his work was 'good'. However you are probably right in implying that that isn't what would happen.

To me the 'interest and success' that he was one unknown individual creating thoughtful pieces to spark discussion is gone.

Maybe that couldn't have lasted forever. But maybe it could have.

[Pysgod]

Mar 3, 2017 18:36:25 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

The success will really depend on the boost to tourism as many state. Hypothetically this sounds great.

How much will these rooms cost? I'm assuming it won't be cheap.

So it could become art for the elite to go visit who will ignore the surrounding area and surrounding problems.

For everyone else it will be a series of pictures no more successful (arguably less successful) then the balloon girl across the street.

What's wrong with you man ? The whole forum is happy,  Just enjoy it for what it is !!

[Eryos]

I will just say that one way or the other he managed to turn worlds attention to a lapidated city that goes mostly ignored. Several organizations had tried to bring attention to that side of the wall, now some additional eyes will look that way. He wants us to look at Palestina, and that he did.

[Rouen Cathedral]

Mar 3, 2017 19:06:01 GMT 1 Pysgod said:

Mar 3, 2017 18:36:25 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

The success will really depend on the boost to tourism as many state. Hypothetically this sounds great.

How much will these rooms cost? I'm assuming it won't be cheap.

So it could become art for the elite to go visit who will ignore the surrounding area and surrounding problems.

For everyone else it will be a series of pictures no more successful (arguably less successful) then the balloon girl across the street.

What's wrong with you man ? The whole forum is happy,  Just enjoy it for what it is !!

Hahahaha don't get me wrong. I like that it makes people happy. I'm all for that. I'll enjoy looking through the photos.

I sure won't be able to afford a visit that's for sure!

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 19:05:09 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Mar 3, 2017 19:00:09 GMT 1 nobokov said:

I don't think I understand. Did Banksy have a mission statement which stated that his artwork was to serve a particular purpose? Is he a philanthropist?

I feel like his cult status seems to stem from his hidden identity. And this anonymous character that he/she created, built up the notoriety through his actions and was fueled by the celebrity/tabloid culture of today. Would people be as enamored with him if he revealed his identity and started selling all of his artwork at walmart?

They should be of his work was 'good'. However you are probably right in implying that that isn't what would happen.

To me the 'interest and success' that he was one unknown individual creating thoughtful pieces to spark discussion is gone.

Maybe that couldn't have lasted forever. But maybe it could have.

Yeah, maybe if he kept strictly to street art without selling prints and tangible/tradeable things, he could've stayed in your ideal stage.

So much of the interest now is just by speculators looking for a quick buck.

[Deleted]

Mar 3, 2017 19:10:54 GMT 1 nobokov said:

Mar 3, 2017 19:05:09 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

They should be of his work was 'good'. However you are probably right in implying that that isn't what would happen.

To me the 'interest and success' that he was one unknown individual creating thoughtful pieces to spark discussion is gone.

Maybe that couldn't have lasted forever. But maybe it could have.

Yeah, maybe if he kept strictly to street art without selling prints and tangible/tradeable things, he could've stayed in your ideal stage.

So much of the interest now is just by speculators looking for a quick buck.

Or fans that can't afford £18 k for a print.

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 19:12:10 GMT 1 @letisss said:

Mar 3, 2017 19:10:54 GMT 1 nobokov said:

Yeah, maybe if he kept strictly to street art without selling prints and tangible/tradeable things, he could've stayed in your ideal stage.

So much of the interest now is just by speculators looking for a quick buck.

Or fans that can't afford £18 k for a print.

hey, WCP is still around.

[Rouen Cathedral]

Mar 3, 2017 19:13:07 GMT 1 nobokov said:

Mar 3, 2017 19:12:10 GMT 1 @letisss said:

Or fans that can't afford £18 k for a print.

hey, WCP is still around.

Don't say 'wcp' around here!!!!

Haha

Ironically WCP gets trashed yet the concept behind it is very 'original banksy'.

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 19:15:56 GMT 1 Rouen Cathedral said:

Mar 3, 2017 19:13:07 GMT 1 nobokov said:

hey, WCP is still around.

Don't say 'wcp' around here!!!!

Haha

Ironically WCP gets trashed yet the concept behind it is very 'original banksy'.

I have a Balloon WCP proudly hanging in my kitchen. Same image as the original and I don't sweat bullets hanging it near the radiator.

[cyberkid]

i can t find the hotel in google maps. 182 caritas street...?!
only a caritas hospital and a "banksy guesthouse" in bethlehem.

[FЯ]

Our security

The hotel contains valuable works of art, some of which you are permitted to lock yourself alone with overnight. As a consequence, a $1000 deposit will be taken on a credit / debit card at check in *. All rooms will be inspected prior to departure, so please allow at least 15 minutes for check-out. The artwork here has been donated to the community and their struggle & any person found attempting to steal from them, or deface hotel property, will be arrested, transported to the police station in Ramallah and prosecuted to the full extent of local law.

[Black Apple Art]

Now that's a flower thrower

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 19:20:33 GMT 1 cyberkid said:

i can t find the hotel in google maps. 182 caritas street...?!
only a caritas hospital and a "banksy guesthouse" in bethlehem.

Try these coordinates

31°43'14"N 35°12'15"E

[mint]

I wonder how long it will take for some of this stuff to go missing....
Some truly amazing pieces.

[twist65]

the art looks fantastic, some of the pieces just wow. I do kind of think that this is his weakest overall concept yet though, at least for a show or event. For the most part I imagine the hotel will be a bubble, he might as well have done it anywhere as to how much notice of the surroundings outside the hotel walls a lot of the guests will take, except to take the occasional cringy poverty tourism instagram selfie in between trying to pinch napkins and branded match boxes. Hope to be proved wrong though.

[Aza]

Having never been to Bethlehem I dont really know, but I assume it would be impossible to not take notice of the surroundings. Perhaps people will just be sitting in their room the whole time playing with their phone?

[11]

Does any one have advice as to how best to get there, if not staying at the Walled Off then where should people stay.... If flying into Tel Aviv should we not mention banksy because of where it is located (referring to the banksy site suggesting that you shouldn't say you are visiting the West-Bank or you could be detained for a while)

If anybody has knowledge and experience of the zone it would be greatly appreciated if you would share

[Bumble]

Cheaper alternative just around the corner.....


www.booking.com/hotel/ps/wall-guest-house.en-gb.html?aid=389182;label=metagha-link-mapresultsGB-hotel-1530602_dev-desktop_los-1_bw-9_dow-Sunday_defdate-1_room-0_lang-en_curr-GBP;sid=7ebc6580ba526fd4f8f89d1788aae25b;all_sr_blocks=153060203_88043001_2_1_0;checkin=2017-03-12;checkout=2017-03-13;dest_id=900048785;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;highlighted_blocks=153060203_88043001_2_1_0;hpos=1;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;srfid=619f432df25b632c6caaef411dd2466f95788689X1;type=total;ucfs=1&

[WOOF]

banksy.co.uk/shop.html

[Deleted]

Mar 3, 2017 20:21:43 GMT 1 11 said:

Does any one have advice as to how best to get there, if not staying at the Walled Off then where should people stay.... If flying into Tel Aviv should we not mention banksy because of where it is located (referring to the banksy site suggesting that you shouldn't say you are visiting the West-Bank or you could be detained for a while)

If anybody has knowledge and experience of the zone it would be greatly appreciated if you would share

Great qs 11, was actually going to ask similar ones. Guess like Faulty Towers we shouldn't mention the war.

[Dice]

The zoomed in flower thrower is epic. Massive segment on c4 news tonight just finished.

[iamzero]

I visited Bethlehem 20 years ago and our tour was under armed guard all the time, first time I'd ever experienced anything like that. I wonder if WCP is planning on opening a budget bed and breakfast version somewhere nearby?

[nobokov]

Mar 3, 2017 19:35:50 GMT 1 twist65 said:

the art looks fantastic, some of the pieces just wow. I do kind of think that this is his weakest overall concept yet though, at least for a show or event. For the most part I imagine the hotel will be a bubble, he might as well have done it anywhere as to how much notice of the surroundings outside the hotel walls a lot of the guests will take, except to take the occasional cringy poverty tourism instagram selfie in between trying to pinch napkins and branded match boxes. Hope to be proved wrong though.

Perhaps his intent was to send thousands of affluent people to visit and find out how difficult it is for Palestinians to travel in and out on a daily basis. Perhaps a powerful art enthusiast visiting might actually feel some empathy and argue against Israel continually encroaching upon their territory and exiling over a million people.

[sakyamuni]

Mar 3, 2017 20:21:43 GMT 1 11 said:

Does any one have advice as to how best to get there, if not staying at the Walled Off then where should people stay.... If flying into Tel Aviv should we not mention banksy because of where it is located (referring to the banksy site suggesting that you shouldn't say you are visiting the West-Bank or you could be detained for a while)

If anybody has knowledge and experience of the zone it would be greatly appreciated if you would share

from wiki travel....
"Nearly all travellers arrive via Jerusalem. Since Bethlehem is administered by the Palestinian Authority, an Israeli military checkpoint stands on the road connecting the two locations.
If entering from Jerusalem on a direct route, one will pass through the "Rachel's Crossing" Israeli checkpoint into Bethlehem. One simply flashes his/her passport to an Israeli soldier, places his/her bags into an x-ray machine, and then walks through a metal detector, much like airport security, to get into/exit Bethlehem.
As with all areas under Palestinian Authority control, Israeli law forbids Israeli citizens to enter unless they receive approval from the Israeli Civil Administration. Currently, groups of peace-supporting Israelis are applying to the Israeli Civil Administration to make monthly, coordinated visits to Palestinian cities in order to meet with and make friendly relations with Palestinians in Palestinian cities.
Tourists are free to enter and exit the checkpoint to Bethlehem and back to Jerusalem as many times as he or she would like without any restrictions. Make sure you bring your passport with your Israeli-issued tourist visa to enter and exit the Palestinian areas."

[Reader]

Mar 3, 2017 20:21:43 GMT 1 11 said:

Does any one have advice as to how best to get there, if not staying at the Walled Off then where should people stay.... If flying into Tel Aviv should we not mention banksy because of where it is located (referring to the banksy site suggesting that you shouldn't say you are visiting the West-Bank or you could be detained for a while)

If anybody has knowledge and experience of the zone it would be greatly appreciated if you would share

Tel Aviv airport security is a nightmare, just seriously dont mentioned Banksy & Palestine. Bethlehem is generally ok to say. Recommend you say your visiting Jerusalem & Bethlehem. Obviously easier to stay in Jerusalem but I guess that's not the point of this exercise. You'll get a pass in your Passport to go through checkpoiints etc. Taxi drivers in East Jerusalem have yellow Israeli number plates and can drive into the occupied territories quite easily. Palestinians are incredibly hospitable, it's in their culture, I'd highly recommend staying in Bethlehem if you're there to experience something new. If you're there for the nightlife and jolly with your mates, then Jerusalem is probably better for you.

 

[11]

Thanks Saky....and what about hotels, is the local area ok to stay in or should we be staying in jerusalem?

edit : didn't see Reader's post so thats my questions answered - thanks everyone