Banksy funded and decorated the ship of an NGO rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea

Banksy, the elusive British street artist, financed and decorated a boat deployed in the Mediterranean Sea to rescue migrants. The ship, the Louise Michel, was painted with some of his famous images, such as the Girl with the Balloon, repurposed in a ... original form (in fact, she wears a life jacket and, instead of a balloon, holds a heart-shaped life jacket). The project is part of a rescue mission carried out together with Sea-Watch, the German NGO dedicated to rescuing migrants attempting the Mediterranean crossing to reach Europe. The Louise Michel, which flies the German flag, began its operations last August 18 by setting sail from the Spanish port of Burriana, near Valencia: it is now in the central Mediterranean, where last Thursday it rescued 89 people (including 14 women and four children), and is looking for a safe port where they can disembark.

Banksy’s idea came about, according to the Guardian, which broke the story, in September 2019, when the artist contacted Pia Klemp, formerly commander of several NGO ships, sending her an email saying that he had read her story in the newspapers and was willing to fund the purchase of a boat to rescue migrants. Klemp at first thought it was a joke, but later changed her mind, and Banksy actually earmarked the money to purchase the vessel. The former captain made it clear that Banksy’s role is limited to providing financial support-the artist will not be on the ship (or so it has transpired so far).

The Louise Michel has a crew of 10, all activists who identify themselves as anti-racists and anti-fascists seeking “radical political change” (so reads the Guardian). This is the latest chapter in Banksy’s commitment to migrants: so far he has expressed himself through his artwork, but now he is also switching to financial support for rescue operations.

Banksy funded and decorated the ship of an NGO rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea

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