Australian artist Lushsux has painted a larger-than-life mural of cartoon character 'Pickle Rick' on the Israeli 'apartheid wall' (Lushsux)An Australian artist has painted a larger-than-life mural of cartoon character ‘Pickle Rick’ on what is commonly described as ‘apartheid wall’ between Israel and the West Bank in Gaza, Palestine.
Illustrating an alternative incarnation of title character Rick Sanchez from popular Adult Swim animated series Rick and Morty, graffiti street artist Lushsux took credit for the artwork, which has appeared on the Israel’s highly controversial segregation wall.
The ‘Pickle Rick’ mural painted on the illegal Israeli-Palestine border wall
In the mural, a speech bubble attributed to Rick Sanchez – who is drawn wearing a skullcap, or kippah – states:
“Look Morty, I turned myself into a kosher pickle… I’m Kosher Pickle Riiiiick!!!”
The quote references a recent episode of the show from series 3, in which Rick transforms himself into a pickle to avoid attending a family counselling therapy session.
Another huge mural of Rick Sanchez, from popular animated series Rick and Morty, finds its way onto the Israeli ‘apartheid wall’
The artist has also painted a giant portrait of cartoon character Rick’s face across a part of the wall, in which he is shown declaring he has turned himself into an “illegal border wall”.
The wall, erected by the Israeli state between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank, has been officially deemed illegal by the United Nations on several occasions, on human rights grounds, but Israel refuses to tear it down.
The United Nations and the International Court of Justice have declared the Israeli border wall, or ‘barrier’, illegal and in breach of international human rights.
The International Court of Justice asserted that “the construction of the wall, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law.”
Hugely successful series Rick and Morty appears to be a running theme for Melbourne-based artist Lushsux, sometimes known simply as LUX.
Rick and Morty is an American adult animated science-fiction sitcom following the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez (left) and his fretful, easily influenced grandson Morty Smith
The image of Rick Sanchez, especially Pickle Rick, is used repeatedly in his street art, which also includes murals of political and popular culture figures including Donald Trump, Vladmir Putin, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and famous celebrities from the world of showbiz and sport.
Many commentators have drawn comparisons between Lushsux’s work and that of social activism artist Banksy, who has also famously painted stencil-based artwork on the Israeli-Palestine wall
Many commentators have drawn comparisons between Lushsux’s work and that of social activism artist Banksy, who has also famously painted stencil-based artwork on the Israeli-Palestine wall.
Lushsux – famous for protecting his identity – was also the only Australian to be included in Banksy’s recent Dismaland Bemusement Park pop-up, a temporary art exhibition featured in Weston super-Mare in 2015.
