by CJ Peradilla
JERUSALEM – In hopes of promoting tourism and discourse at West Bank City in Bethlehem, British Graffiti artist Banksy unveiled The Walled Off, a hotel with the “worst view in the world, whose 10 rooms get just 25 minutes of direct sunlight a day.” The infamous worst view in the world–a 30-foot wall of concrete–is marked with Banksy’s insignia, easily seen in nine of the guest rooms and the presidential suite.
Among the hotel’s amenities is the Piano Bar, which according to the website is “equipped with languid ceiling fans, leather bound couches and an air of undeserved authority.”
In addition, the website reassures guests that warm scones, freshly brewed tea, and the Walled Off salad are well within reach. A collection of Banksy artwork, described in jest as “vandalized oil paintings and statues choking on tear gas fumes,” are available for spectators to peruse. In fact, a mural of cherubs hanging on life support, amidst a graffiti backdrop, is painted on the wall above the piano in the bar.
Another distinct mural, in which two Palestinian soldiers engage in a pillow fight (image above), can be found in one of the guest rooms. Two other rooms in the hotel have been set aside for two other artists.
Much of not just the art, but the way in which Walled Off was designed–bleak, rigid, and, quite literally, walled-off–speaks volumes about the conflict within the surrounding area. For instance, one of the guest rooms, furnished with bunk beds and footlockers, feels very reminiscent of army barracks.
Meanwhile, the presidential suite is home to many an elegant luxury–it comes with a mini theater, a bar, a study, and its very own jacuzzi. The water for the jacuzzi, however, springs from a tank bespeckled with what appears like bullet holes.
The hotel, situated in the border separating Israel from the Palestinian territories, will officially begin taking reservations and bookings come March 11.
Photos from The Walled Off Hotel Facebook page and website.
