Glastonbury 2024: Banksy responds to criticism of migrant life boat
Anonymous artist Banksy has responded to criticism surrounding the art piece he unveiled at Glastonbury Festival last weekend, which spotlight the migrant crisis.
During Idles’ set on the Other Stage on June 28th, an inflatable lifeboat holding dummies in neon orange life jackets crowd-surfed across the audience. This has since been revealed to be the work of Banksy, and the band were unaware that it was set to occur.
The post-punk band were playing their 2018 hit, ‘Danny Nedelko’, a song that loudly praises immigration and unity, when the boat was launched into the crowd. “My blood brother is an immigrant, a beautiful immigrant”, shouts vocalist Joe Talbot at the song’s opening.
Following the political performance, Home Secretary James Cleverly criticised the art piece. During an appearance on Sky News, the politician commented, “There are a bunch of people that are joking and celebrating about criminal actions which cost lives.”
Cleverly concluded that the stint was “vile,” a word Banksy has now turned back around on immigration policymakers in his response to the criticism.
The unknown artist shared a response on Instagram, declaring the Home Secretary’s statement “a bit over the top” before spotlighting the recent and truly “vile” blockage of a rescue boat he funds in the Mediterranean. His statement was accompanied by images of the real ship and the art piece.
“The real boat I fund, the MV Louise Michel rescued 17 unaccompanied children from the Central Med on Monday night,” he explained, “As punishment the Italian authorities have detained it – which seems vile and unacceptable to me.”
According to the MV Louise Michel Instagram account, which Banksy linked in the caption, the boat has been detained for 20 days in Lampedusa after rescuing 37 people. They were instructed to disembark to Sicily, but the weather was not fit for travel.
“This political game played with people seeking safety needs to end immediately,” the post states, “No one should be left at sea. Everyone has the right to a safe place. And nobody’s safety should be compromised for political games or strategies!”
The MV Louise Michel and its crew have supported hundreds of people in the Mediterranean, working to help those at sea and change unsafe and discriminatory policies. The organisation take donations on their website, which Banksy also linked alongside his statement.
In a four-and-a-half star review of Idles’ set at Worthy Farm, Far Out wrote: “With their rough as sandpaper punk, Idles delivered the perfect antidote to the polished pop from Dua Lipa a short walk away on the Pyramid Stage. Evidently enthused to have been given such a prominent slot, the socially conscious screamers captured the energy of a firecracker let off in an elevator. Easily one of the most full-throttle and affecting sets of Glastonbury Festival so far.”
