Banksy: Art controversy and detention of MV Louise Michel

LONDON: British street artist Banksy has sparked controversy with his latest artwork and the subsequent detention of the MV Louise Michel, a vessel he funded to assist migrants in the Mediterranean on Wednesday.

The controversy began when Banksy unveiled an inflatable boat filled with dummy figures representing migrants at the Glastonbury music festival. British Home Secretary James Cleverly criticised the artwork as “vile” and “unacceptable”. He accusing Bansky of trivialising a serious issue where lives are lost during migrant crossings.

Read more: New mural of artist Banksy showing tree leaves appears in London

In response, Banksy defended his artwork as important social commentary on the humanitarian crisis. He highlighted the real-world efforts of the MV Louise Michel, which recently rescued 17 unaccompanied children from the Mediterranean.

However, shortly after this rescue, Italian authorities detained the vessel. The authorities cited its failure to comply with orders to disembark survivors in Sicily due to adverse weather conditions.

The detention sparked further anger, with Banksy and the crew of the MV Louise Michel criticising it as a political manoeuvre that hampered crucial rescue operations. They argued that such actions undermined humanitarian efforts at a time when many migrants risked their lives attempting dangerous sea crossings.

The MV Louise Michel is a ship funded by Banksy, who launched the vessel in 2019 to performing search and rescue missions along Europe’s coastal borders with Africa.

It gained attention during its inaugural week by saving more than 300 migrants.

Read more: UK reports over one-third decrease in migrant crossings of English Channel

The detention of the MV Louise Michel is yet another chapter in the contentious topic surrounding migrant crisis in Europe and the complexities of migrant rescue operations amid increasing sea crossings.

The United Kingdom recorded a 16 per cent rise in small boat arrivals in the first half of 2024 alone. In response, the Conservative, Rishi Sunak-led government decided to enact controversial “Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024”.

The bill allowed for the deportation of illegal migrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda under the UK-Rwanda Partnership treaty. Despite legal challenges and opposition citing human rights concerns and international law violations, Sunak hailed the legislation as a deterrent to illegal migration and human trafficking.