In the hands of artists, Israel’s oppressive wall around the West Bank is also turning into a powerful symbol of resistance. The barrier imposes an apartheid-style regime on the Palestinian people and institutionalizes a land-grab in contravention of international law. But in the words of street artist Banksy, the wall has also become ‘the ultimate activity holiday destination for graffiti writers’ and a stunning visual representation of international solidarity.

William Parry has constructed a beautiful photographic document of this transformation. His crisp, pithy text puts the wall in context and describes how it impacts on the daily lives of Palestinians. Against the Wall is a fine example of the political potential of art that may just help tip the balance of opinion.

www.plutobooks.com

This article is from the September 2010 issue of New Internationalist.
You can access the entire archive of over 500 issues with a digital subscription. Get a free trial »