West Banksy: Artist's donkey mural gets UK display

Banksy's Donkey Documents was cut away from the wall of a building in Bethlehem with the owner's consent. Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

A Banksy artwork spray-painted onto a section of a wall in Bethlehem will go on public display in the UK today before being shipped to the US, where it is due to sell at auction for up to £380,000.
The mural shows a donkey having its identification papers checked by an armed Israeli soldier, in mockery of the Israeli government's stringent security measures.
The elusive artist created the work, titled Donkey Documents, in 2007 along with a series of other works along the barrier separating the Palestinian West Bank and Israel.

The stone wall piece will be on display at London's Design Centre Chelsea Harbour before being shipped to California for the public sale.
Auctioneers Julien's Auctions hailed the work as "the largest, most significant intact mural from the artist's visit to Israel" and underlined its religious connotations.

Banksy’s location choice, timing, and subject matter draws parallels with the donkey depicted in the Biblical Christmas story who transported Mary into Bethlehem, where she is believed to have given birth to Jesus.
Indeed, just behind Banksy’s mural can be seen the cross and bell tower of the Church of the Nativity, built over the spot where Jesus is said to have been born.

– Julien's Auctions

The mural is expected to sell to a private collector when it goes under the hammer in Beverly Hills on 30 September.
The lot will include an original agreement between Bethlehem building owners and the mural's present owner.

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