Mosman residents thought a street art mural was ‘graffiti’ on Canrobert St wall of Heirloom Espresso cafe
A ‘BOGAN’ art mural being painted on a cafe wall has upset Mosman residents, prompting the council to ask for work to stop for community consultation.
Mosman
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mosman. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ONE person’s art is another person’s ire, as a Mosman cafe owner found when he commissioned an artist to paint a coffee-themed wall mural.
Residents have labelled the incomplete work “graffiti” and one feared Mosman was turning into “bogan central”.
Heirloom Espresso owner Marcel Ghabbar wanted to spruce up his cafe’s blank exterior wall in Canrobert St and found a mural artist to turn his idea into reality.
“I thought this would make a nice canvas for a bit of tasteful art and I got linked up with a really talented mural artist — he’s a friend of a friend — and he’s very professional,” he said.
“I like his work so I’m like, I’ll get him to do the mural.”
Mr Ghabbar did not approach Mosman Council about his plans.
“I did not think it was a council-related matter because it’s private property,” he said.
“I just spoke to my landlord, who was very supportive of it.
“There’s a cafe across the road from us which has a mural up already: Counting Sheep Corner has a colourful cartoon, animated mural.”
Artist Joe Quilter began work on the mural about a week and a half ago. Mr Ghabbar said the council then approached him.
“They told me initially that it would be fine,” he said. “There’s no act that states that you cannot do an art piece or a mural.
“But there’s an act that states you can’t put commercial signage up.”
Quilter continued work on the mural last week. But the eye-catching design soon grabbed the attention of apprehensive passers-by.
“Council told us that we had to stop, — so we did — this was on Friday,” Mr Ghabbar said.
“They thought it was too impactful and they would like me to hold off on the mural until they have consulted the community and come to an agreement on what would be deemed appropriate or tasteful.”
Councillor Simon Menzies said residents had asked him when Mosman Council was going to remove the “graffiti”.
“At first I thought Mosman had been amalgamated with Newtown,” he said.
“I’ve requested work be suspended and the design be made available for public comment.
“I’m all for public art, but a process of approval needs to be followed.
“Our community needs to consider whether street murals are the future or local character should be preserved and whether the work is an artistic, creative and sophisticated response to the streetscape.
“Numerous residents have raised concerns that ‘graffiti art’ is more suited to vibrant laneways.”
Mr Ghabbar said the mural was not even 50 per cent complete.
“That’s not what it’s going to look like; it’ll be super edgy,” he said.
“At the moment there is no law against it, but I’m just going with what council says.”
Mr Ghabbar said the situation amused him.
“I just think it’s a very petty issue that has caused away too much drama,” he said.
“It’s harmless and, if anything, I think it should be received much more warmly.
“It’s not political, it’s not offensive and it’s artwork done by a professional artist.
“I’d be happy for people to give me feedback on it once it’s done, rather than judging it while it’s still in its infancy.
“The overwhelming majority of people who have approached us about it are positive about it, generally excited about the whole project and want to see it finished.”
The council’s spokeswoman said that no permission had been sought for the painting of the wall.
“The council’s compliance team has received notice from a customer relating to the painting of the wall and the operators have been advised by a council officer not to proceed with the works at this stage, to enable the investigation to be conducted,” the spokeswoman said.
Mr Ghabbar said he understood the council needed to address people’s concerns.
“I can understand their reaction in trying to appease a few people who seem to be have an issue with it,” he said.
“But the people who complain tend to be much louder than the people who are supportive of it.
“If people are against something they seem to do so obviously or blatantly.
“Since they approached me initially, saying there was nothing wrong with it, I think after a few noisy complaints maybe they wanted the problem to go away so they took a different stance.”
‘Cracks, mould’: New apartments ordered to fix serious defects
Cracks, mould and corrosion were among a list of defects identified during the latest blitz on newly built developments in Sydney’s north shore.
Slippery fix could silence Sydney’s notorious ‘screeching’ train line
Sydney Trains will trial train track ‘lubrication’ on the tightest bend in the city’s rail network as the sound of ‘screeching trains’ leaves locals seething and at their wits’ end.