Graffiti artist paints giant ‘Pickle Rick’ on Israeli segregation wall

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.