Graffiti taggers are targeting a reworked Yarraville mural after the original artwork fell foul of a business owner and Maribyrnong council.
The mural on the external wall of the Village Store is undergoing extensive revision from the original which was painted in June by a team of artists led by Yarraville street artist Heesco.
Council is funding the repaint work but has refused to reveal the cost, citing “commercial in confidence”.
The original artists were paid $4000 for their initial artwork – $3000 by the council and $1000 by The Village Store.
The mural was originally created as part of the council’s $40,000 StreetWORKS project to eliminate graffiti in tagging hot spots. However, last week a “We Love Paid Parking” graffiti appeared on the new mural, while taggers have again targeted the space in recent days.
Star Weekly last month reported the mural created controversy by depicting local Big Issue seller Nigel holding a magazine containing a “No Paid Parking in Yarraville” slogan.
The mural was also considered to have flouted heritage overlay restrictions on the site.
Council community wellbeing director Lynley Dumble said council had engaged new contractors to complete the mural.
“The contractors have been instructed to return the mural to the original artistic concept that was agreed upon by The Village Store owners and council,” she said.
The Village Store owner Daniel Anderson said he was not happy with the original version but was pleased with progress on the new mural.
“It’s getting back to the original brief,” he said. “I don’t think that many people were impressed with the first go.”
Ms Dumble said the council was trying to contact Nigel to seek his permission to use his image at another Yarraville Village site.
“Council intends to use the original artist who created the portrait of Nigel for a potential depiction of him in another location,” she said. “However, he is overseas at the moment.”
Artist Heesco labelled the situation “kind of ridiculous”.
