Unveiled in 2017 as part of Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, the chimpanzee bellboy is one of the first sculptures that greets visitors at the hotel entrance. Dressed in a classic red porter’s uniform and carrying luggage, the chimpanzee figure blends humour with sharp social critique.

Monkeys are a recurring motif in Banksy’s work, often used as stand-ins for human folly, obedience, and the absurdity of social hierarchies. Here, the chimpanzee embodies the role of subservience, highlighting both the dehumanising aspects of hospitality culture and the broader themes of exploitation and labour.

Placed at a site overlooking the Israeli-built separation wall, the statue carries an additional layer of meaning. The absurdity of a chimpanzee hotel porter juxtaposed with the harsh reality of division and conflict reflects Banksy’s ability to merge satire with political urgency. The figure turns the act of checking into a hotel into a surreal performance, forcing visitors to confront the uncomfortable coexistence of playfulness and oppression.