Banksy yesterday announced a generous raffle with a strong charity background, just in time for the Christmas season. Offering a unique, original part of one of his most talked about installations from Dismaland in 2015, the artist teamed up with Choose Love to realize this noteworthy initiative.
The sculpture he is giving away was a part of the coin-operated "attraction" that was on display at Banksy bemuseumt park. The full piece was featuring a pool, a watchtower, patrolling boat, two boats with refugees, and a couple of floating bodies. Described both as darkly satirical work of art as well as a remote control toy in very bad taste, the piece was a commentary on then, and still troubling issue of refugee crisis hitting the shores of Europe. In general, when compared to the peak of the arrivals in the first half of 2016, the number of asylum-seekers and migrants that reached European shores by crossing the Mediterranean Sea in first six months of 2018 are five times lower: But the number of migrant men, women, and children dying or missing at sea has reached over 1,000 for the fifth year in a row. These staggering statists are showing why initiatives and organizations like Choose Love are important. As the world’s first store where you can buy real gifts for refugees, they supply practical items like tents, nappies and sleeping bags. But instead of taking or ordering them to their home, each purchase buys a similar item for someone who truly needs it. —Sasha Bogojev
By making a minimum donation of £2 until 8 pm GMT December 22nd, 2018, via Choose Love website, anyone is invited to guess the weight of the boat that the artist is giving away. The closest guess will win the piece which is now on display at their pop up store at 30-32 Fouberts Place, Carnaby Street, London, W1F 7PS. More info can be found here.
