Banksy European migrant paintings raise £2.2million for Bethlehem rehab charity
A trio of Banksy paintings referencing the European migrant crisis has sold for £2.2million in a charity auction.
The Bristol artist used the sale to fund a new acute stroke unit and children's rehabilitation equipment for Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation.
Estimates originally suggested the series titled 'Mediterranean Sea View 2017' would sell for between £800,000 and £1.2 million in the Sotheby's sale.
Banksy's triptych carries a political message about the migrant crisis of the past decade. The work shows the sun shining over a seascape with life buoys and orange life jackets being washed on to the shore.
The three pieces were originally created for his Walled Off hotel in Bethlehem which looks out onto the barrier separating Israel from the Palestinian territories.
It opened in 2017 as a functioning hotel with the purpose of carrying Banksy's political statement.
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