Banksy’s Latest: ‘Les Misérables’ Art About Calais Refugee Camp
Perhaps the most elusive artist in the world, Banksy has shown up once again. This time, his (her?) art is in showed up at the French embassy in London in response to how the refugee crisis is being handled.
Banksy’s Les Miserable artwork depicts a crying young girl surrounded by fumes emanating from a cylinder of CS gas. This is in reference to the use – alleged – of tear gas on refugees by the police.
The graffiti showed up on Twitter, together with a QR code on the lower left of the image.
#Banksy #StreetArt #Art pic.twitter.com/8xSUC5xu8t
— Grisbi or not Grisbi (@GrisbiornotGris) January 24, 2016
If you scan the QR code, you’ll be redirected to a YouTube video showing what happened at the Calais refugee camp on the 5th of January.
According to The Guardian, police said that they didn’t use tear gas in the camps. The report quoted Steve Barbet, a police spokesperson: “It’s not in our interest to use teargas unless it’s absolutely necessary to restore public order, and it is never used in the camp itself.”
Watch the YouTube video below, however, and see what happened.
Banksy is known for his controversial and yet hauntingly beautiful and meaningful street art, and while we don’t really know the person behind the artist, we can at least admire the work and perhaps be induced to act.
