Banksy surprised the crowd by launching an inflatable migrant boat during Idles’ performance at Glastonbury. The artwork sparked discussions about immigration and received strong reactions from politicians.
Key Takeaways
- Banksy created an inflatable migrant boat that was launched during Idles' Glastonbury performance, causing much attention and discussion.
- The artwork connects to Banksy's past work on immigration issues and highlights the struggles of migrants.
- UK Home Secretary James Cleverly criticized the artwork, calling it a "celebration of loss of life."
Banksy’s Surprising Artwork at Glastonbury
During the 2024 Glastonbury Festival, an unexpected performance art piece by Banksy captured the crowd’s attention.
While the band Idles was playing on the Other Stage, an inflatable life raft filled with dummy migrants was launched across the audience.
Many festival-goers initially believed it was part of Idles’ show due to the band’s known stance of empathizing with immigrants.
However, a representative later clarified that Banksy was behind the stunt and that the band was unaware of it until after their performance.
Banksy’s History with Glastonbury and the Immigration Crisis
Banksy has a strong connection with Glastonbury. In 2019, he designed the Union flag-emblazoned stab-proof vest for Stormzy’s Pyramid stage headline set.
His works often appear at the festival, including a 2010 piece that reappeared in 2022 for the festival’s 50th anniversary.
The artist’s latest piece, featuring the inflatable migrant boat, references the small boats carrying migrants across the Channel—a hot topic in UK immigration policy.
The boat was launched during Idles’ song “Danny Nedelko,” which has powerful lyrics celebrating immigrants:
“My blood brother is an immigrant
A beautiful immigrant
My blood brother’s Freddie Mercury
A Nigerian mother of three
He’s made of bones, he’s made of blood
He’s made of flesh, he’s made of love
He’s made of you, he’s made of me
Unity
Fear leads to panic; panic leads to pain
Pain leads to anger; anger leads to hate.”
Political Reactions and Controversies
Many UK political figures noticed the piece. Home Secretary James Cleverly condemned the artwork, calling it a “celebration of loss of life” and criticizing it as a misplaced attempt at humor.
Cleverly also criticized the Labour Party’s immigration policies, saying they have effectively made it hard to control the borders.
Banksy’s work often addresses pressing social issues, and his commentary on migration is no exception. In 2020, he funded a rescue boat called the Louise Michel, which was held by Italian authorities in 2023.
His 2019 Venice Biennale piece and a 2015 stencil in the Calais refugee camp, showing Steve Jobs as a migrant, also show his ongoing interest in the migrant crisis.
Glastonbury’s Focus on Migration
This year’s Glastonbury festival dedicated a new area, Terminal 1, to the theme of migration, replacing the old William’s Green stage.
To enter, attendees had to answer a question from the UK citizenship test. The area featured music from Notting Hill and Bristol’s St Paul’s carnivals and visual art from global artists like Love Watts, Yoshi Sodeoka, and Mark Wallinger.
Banksy’s inflatable boat artwork fits well with this theme, reminding everyone of the ongoing problems migrants face.
The piece continues Banksy’s tradition of using art to provoke thought and discussion on critical social issues.
