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The installation at St. James's brought to mind a painting created in a similar vein, believed to be the work of British street artist Banksy. Known as the "Banksy Christmas card," the work depicts Joseph and Mary being prevented from entering Bethlehem due to Israel's wall in the West Bank.
Both works of art are doing one of the most valuable things art can do. In general, art is of little to no moral value. It can be pleasing, challenging, stimulating, and so on, but as the saying goes regarding philosophy, it bakes no bread. Any functional, healthy society is of course going to engage in art and philosophy; but neither constitute moral action.
Nevertheless, both can serve as a stepping stone toward principled endeavor. A work of art can be inspirational. It can also be used for therapeutic purposes. In the former case, the work stirs a person - educationally, spiritually, emotionally - to act. In the latter case, the work serves as an apparatus in psychological relief and treatment. With regard to the moral plane, inspiration and therapy are the most art can achieve.
The St. James's installation and Banksy's painting are candidates for creating inspiration. Seeing the wall artistically represented can produce - especially for those who have not seen the real one - a new mental space in which to contemplate it. The real wall, for those not living in Palestine or Israel, also exists in a mode of representation: in newspaper photos, video reportage, and the like. By using art, reality can appear in a heightened, impactful way. In this case, the art is a kind of journalism.
