Banksy’s first interactive artwork takes aim at French police

Matthew Ponsford, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 5:19 AM EST, Tue January 26, 2016
New artwork by street artist Banksy depicts a young girl from the musical Les Miserables with tears in her eyes as teargas moves towards her. It is the artist's latest work which aims to confront confronting the refugee crisis. Discover more...
New artwork by street artist Banksy depicts a young girl from the musical Les Miserables with tears in her eyes as teargas moves towards her. It is the artist's latest work which aims to confront confronting the refugee crisis. Discover more...
Carl Court/Getty Images
The image, near the French Embassy in London, depicts the character Cosette from the musical Les Miserables as a refugee. It follows reports that French authorities used teargas and rubber bullets to clear sections of the camp earlier this month. An interactive QR code links visitors to a video of the clearance.
The image, near the French Embassy in London, depicts the character Cosette from the musical Les Miserables as a refugee. It follows reports that French authorities used teargas and rubber bullets to clear sections of the camp earlier this month. An interactive QR code links visitors to a video of the clearance.
Carl Court/Getty Images
This image one, painted on a concrete bridge in December, depicts the late Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple.
This image one, painted on a concrete bridge in December, depicts the late Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The image shows Jobs carrying a sack and a Macintosh computer. A caption of the image on the artist's website reads: "the son of a migrant from Syria."
The image shows Jobs carrying a sack and a Macintosh computer. A caption of the image on the artist's website reads: "the son of a migrant from Syria."
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
This second image, found in the town center of Calais, is based on "The Raft of the Medusa" by French artist Theodore Gericault. In this, he substitutes the Argus ship with a ferry crossing the Channel.
This second image, found in the town center of Calais, is based on "The Raft of the Medusa" by French artist Theodore Gericault. In this, he substitutes the Argus ship with a ferry crossing the Channel.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A photo of the work appears on the artist's website, with the caption, "we're not all in the same boat." The image depicts migrants waving down a luxury yacht.
A photo of the work appears on the artist's website, with the caption, "we're not all in the same boat." The image depicts migrants waving down a luxury yacht.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A third image which appeared by the coast shows a child with a suitcase looking through a telescope, which has a vulture perched on top of it.
A third image which appeared by the coast shows a child with a suitcase looking through a telescope, which has a vulture perched on top of it.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Earlier this year, on the other side of the Channel, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/20/arts/banksy-dismaland-art-exhibition/">Banksy's Dismaland theme park</a> -- the street artist's dystopian take on Disneyland -- opened in southwest England.
Earlier this year, on the other side of the Channel, Banksy's Dismaland theme park -- the street artist's dystopian take on Disneyland -- opened in southwest England.
Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
A Banksy mural depicting pigeons holding anti-immigration signs was destroyed by the local council in Clacton-on-Sea, England in October after the council received complaints that the artwork was offensive.
A Banksy mural depicting pigeons holding anti-immigration signs was destroyed by the local council in Clacton-on-Sea, England in October after the council received complaints that the artwork was offensive.
Courtesy Banksy
In February 2015, the secretive street artist was in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. His mural, here, depicts children using an Israeli army watchtower as a swing ride.
In February 2015, the secretive street artist was in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. His mural, here, depicts children using an Israeli army watchtower as a swing ride.
Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
These houses in Beit Hanun were destroyed during battles between Israel and Hamas militants in the summer of 2014. Another mural by Banksy -- this one of a kitten -- appeared this year on the remains of a house.
These houses in Beit Hanun were destroyed during battles between Israel and Hamas militants in the summer of 2014. Another mural by Banksy -- this one of a kitten -- appeared this year on the remains of a house.
Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
The secretive street artist built his reputation on playful images that began appearing on the walls of London and Bristol in the early 1990s. This image is from 2006.
The secretive street artist built his reputation on playful images that began appearing on the walls of London and Bristol in the early 1990s. This image is from 2006.
Dave Etheridge-Barnes/Getty Images
Banksy's work often plays with overtly political themes such as surveillance culture and state corruption.
Banksy's work often plays with overtly political themes such as surveillance culture and state corruption.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
... not to mention many a humorous dig at Britain's police force.
... not to mention many a humorous dig at Britain's police force.
Paul Hartnett/PYMCA/Getty
Another riff on the theme of amusement parks made its way to New York's Lower East Side: this ghoulish exhibit called "Grim Reaper Bumper Car."
Another riff on the theme of amusement parks made its way to New York's Lower East Side: this ghoulish exhibit called "Grim Reaper Bumper Car."
Jason Szenes/EPA/Landov
The artist has also taken on lighter themes: Banksy's Mobile Lovers, featuring a man and a woman embraced and looking at their mobile phones, sprayed onto a black wooden board is displayed inside the Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project on April 16, 2014 in Bristol, England.
The artist has also taken on lighter themes: Banksy's Mobile Lovers, featuring a man and a woman embraced and looking at their mobile phones, sprayed onto a black wooden board is displayed inside the Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project on April 16, 2014 in Bristol, England.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
The artist created a fibreglass replica of Ronald McDonald having his shoes shined by a boy in South Bronx.
The artist created a fibreglass replica of Ronald McDonald having his shoes shined by a boy in South Bronx.
Erik Pendzich/Rex USA
Banksy famously took his firebrand style to the streets of New York in 2013, with a series of artworks appearing over the course of a month in neighborhoods around the city.
Banksy famously took his firebrand style to the streets of New York in 2013, with a series of artworks appearing over the course of a month in neighborhoods around the city.
Daniel Pierce Wright/Getty Images
A Banksy mural on a wall in Queens shows a man washing away a quote from the movie "Gladiator." It reads: "What we do in life echoes in eternity."
A Banksy mural on a wall in Queens shows a man washing away a quote from the movie "Gladiator." It reads: "What we do in life echoes in eternity."
JASON SZENES/EPA/LANDOV
Despite his anti-establishment roots, Banksy has gone on to garner great enthusiasm from the high-end art market world. This stencil print "Love is in the Air" sold for $248,000 in 2013.
Despite his anti-establishment roots, Banksy has gone on to garner great enthusiasm from the high-end art market world. This stencil print "Love is in the Air" sold for $248,000 in 2013.
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Artist Banksy's latest works appear in Calais, France
London CNN  — 

A new mural by street artist Banksy has appeared opposite the French Embassy in London, criticizing authorities’ alleged use of teargas in a refugee camp in Calais, France.

The image, which recreates a poster from the French musical Les Misérables, shows a young girl enveloped by CS gas, crying.

A QR code painted near to the mural links viewers to a seven-minute online video of reputed police raids on the “Jungle” refugee camp in Calais on 5 January. It is the first time the artist has created a digitally interactive mural.

The YouTube video appears to show riot police using teargas and rubber bullets against refugees. But a police spokesperson for the local prefect in Calais, denied that teargas was used in the camp, saying last week: “We do not use teargas without a good reason and use of teargas has to be authorized and it is only authorized when it is necessary.”

Authorities have cleared a 100m buffer zone along the edge of the camp by a main road, citing security reasons.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: A Banksy artwork is created opposite the French embassy on January 25, 2016 in London, England. The graffiti, which depicts a young girl from the musical Les Miserables with tears in her eyes as CS gas moves towards her, criticises the use of teargas in the 'Jungle' migrant camp in Calais. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
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Banksy takes aim at French police aggression
01:18 - Source: CNN

The mural is the artist’s latest attack on the European response to the continuing refugee crisis. In December 2015, a mural depicting Apple founder Steve Jobs appeared in the refugee camp, accompanied by commentary on the artist’s website that made reference to the entrepreneur’s biological father, a Syrian migrant who settled in 1950’s Wisconsin.

A second mural by the artist in Calais adapted French painter Theodore Gericault’s famed image “The Raft of the Medusa,” but showed refugees attempting to flag down a luxury yacht. A third mural nearby showed a child looking towards Britain through a telescope, while a vulture stands beside her.

“Dismaland”, a large-scale installation created by the enigmatic British artist last August, included a work depicting drowned refugees in boats. Materials used to construct the “bemusement park”, a satire of the commercial theme park experience, in Weston-Super-Mare, UK have since been shipped to the Calais camp to build shelters.

The image of Jobs has reportedly been defaced repeatedly since its arrival in the camp. A protective glass plate was placed in front of it by local authorities, but this was torn down last week.