Banksy reworks girl with heart balloon to mark third anniversary of Syria conflict

The graffiti artist has joined the #WithSyria campaign to support crisis victims

Jess Denham
Wednesday 12 March 2014 14:15 GMT
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Banksy has reworked his girl with heart balloon stencil to mark the third anniversary of the start of the Syria conflict
Banksy has reworked his girl with heart balloon stencil to mark the third anniversary of the start of the Syria conflict

Graffiti artist Banksy has recreated one of his most famous stencils to commemorate the third anniversary of the Syria conflict.

His girl with a heart balloon artwork has been reworked to depict a young Syrian refugee, who will be projected onto the Eiffel Tower, Nelson’s Column, and other international landmarks tomorrow.

“On the 6 March 2011 in the Syrian town of Daraa, fifteen children were arrested and tortured for painting anti-authoritarian graffiti,” Bansky wrote on his website.

“The protests that followed their detention led to an outbreak of violence across the country that would see a domestic uprising transform into a civil war displacing 9.3 million people from their homes.”

Banksy’s statement ended with “#WithSyria”, the social media hashtag for the campaign to support Syria’s victims, also backed by British actor Idris Elba and alternative rock band Elbow.

The first Syrian protests were triggered by the children’s anti-Assad, pro-democracy graffiti, making the cause particularly relevant to Banksy.

Banksy's original girl with a heart balloon painting from 2002

On Thursday, a “global recreation” of the moving Banksy piece will also see red balloons released en masse around the world.

There will be a vigil in London’s Trafalgar Square from 6pm.

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