Port Phillip Council to remove ‘anti-Semitic’ mural in Balaclava after Jewish community outrage

A local council has apologised and started to remove a state-government funded mural slammed by the Jewish community as promoting a “stereotypical anti-Semitic trope”

A mural in Balaclava has sparked backlash from the Jewish community. Picture: Supplied

Port Phillip Council has apologised for a mural slammed by Melbourne’s Jewish community for portraying a “stereotypical anti-Semitic trope” as work began to remove it.

The mural, painted on the upper levels of a shopfront on Carlisle St in Balaclava, depicts a series of faces which members of Melbourne’s Jewish community say reflect clear and well-understood anti-Semitic tropes of Jewish men.

Port Phillip Council works to remove a mural in Balaclava. Picture: Lauren Hutchinson

On Friday, Port Phillip Council apologised and said work had begun to paint over it.

“Since late yesterday, Council has received a large volume of community complaints regarding some portraits that form part of this series,” the council said.

“We realise that regardless of the artist’s intentions, the portraits have deeply upset and divided members of our community and for that we apologise.”

Mark Shenken whom is apart of the Jewish community, is happy to see the mural go.

“I didn’t think it was anti semtic to begin with but upon reflection I see it,” he said.

“It was the wrong choice for this area because people are very sensitive particularly in the current climate.

For the Jewish people that is a characture we’ve seen before — it frightens people.”

Anastasia Pavlou works in shop underneath the mural and believes it should be replaced with something better.

“There should be something about peace and people coming together,” she said.

“This should be a time where everyone should be supporting each other no matter what community your from.”

The mural was painted by Melbourne artist Michael Porter and promoted by Port Phillip Council on Facebook earlier this week as part of its “People Of Balaclava” project.

“Have you seen the new addition to the artwork on Carlisle Street?” the post read.

“It is an Art Activation initiated by @cityofportphillip. The goal is to work closely with numerous stakeholders connected to Carlisle Street to activate the upper facades of over 20 buildings.

“The artworks are depictions of many of the characters of Carlisle Street.”

Zionist Federation of Australia said the mural was deeply concerning. Picture: Supplied

John Curtin Research Centre executive director Nick Dyrenfurth slammed the mural, saying he had “no words” for it in a social media post.

“And if we want to inquire as to the potential motivations of the artist, Mic Porter. He posted this video at the October 29 Melbourne protest set to Nino Simone’s ‘Backlash blues’,” Mr Dyrenfurth wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

City of Port Phillip Councillor Marcus Pearl voiced substantial concerns regarding the murals and formally asked the council to remove it.

“I have received a significant number of complaints from members of our community who find these murals deeply offensive,” he said.

“This comes at a time when unity and cohesion are more important than ever.

“I sincerely apologise for the distress caused by these artworks to our community. Such instances of divisiveness are utterly unacceptable.

“I have formally requested the Council to take immediate action for the removal of these murals.

“This represents a Governance failure by our Council.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said it was “deeply concerning” to such a “stereotypical anti-Semitic trope” in Balaclava.

“As Jewish Australians feel under siege from an explosion of anti-Semitism across Australia, to see a stereotypical anti-Semitic trope in the heart of the Jewish community, funded by the Government is deeply concerning,” he said.

“We have seen this story before.”

Carlisle St, Balaclava (Melbourne)

My street, my neighbourhood

No words pic.twitter.com/gTAx41glNj

— Nick Dyrenfurth שמואל בן אברהם (@dyrenfurth) November 16, 2023

Zionism Victoria executive director Zeddy Lawrence said while the art might be Mr Porter’s “style”, the images were inappropriate for the neighbourhood.

“Having looked at a number of the artist’s works online, I can appreciate that this may be his style,” he said.

“If that’s the case, it’s just incredibly unfortunate that his comically grotesque images which are redolent of monstrous anti-Semitic caricatures appear as street art in such a notable Jewish neighbourhood.

“Someone somewhere may have made a very poor Judgement call as to what would be appropriate to feature on the facades of Carlisle Street.”

Mr Porter has been contacted for comment.

The backlash against mural came as a property in Melbourne’s southeast had the words “Kill the Jews, Jew lives here” spray painted on it.

A home in Clayton South was targeted in a disturbing attack. Picture: Supplied

The chilling graffiti was spray painted on a brick mailbox in front of units in Clayton South.

Outraged community members shared images of the on social media on Thursday, with

Caulfield MP David Southwick telling the Herald Sun people who “incite violence like this belong in jail”.

“History has seen the homes of Jews targeted before. We know where this can end. ‘Never Again’ is now,” he told the Herald Sun.

The Member of Caulfield wrote to the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip on Friday morning expressing how deeply offensive the mural has been to the Jewish community.

“Already the Jewish community is feeling unsafe and very emotionally unstable,” said Mr Southwick.

“This mural has been further triggering and alarming - to think that their own neighbourhood has something so grotesque is the last thing the jewish community would expect right now.”

The art installation was intended to activate the Carlisle Street shopping strip which is believed to have been struggling since the pandemic.

“I can’t understand how this would be a warm or welcoming entrance for a shopping strip anywhere in Melbourne,” he said.

“The fact that this is in the heart of Melbourne’s jewish community is completely poor judgement.”

Mr Southwick has urged Council to consult with traders and all sections of the local community before spending ratepayer’s money.

“The only conclusion I can draw out of all of this is that there has been a massive system failure within the bureaucracy of council to even allow this to happen, “ he said.

“Why would they be wasting rate payers money on this kind of stuff?

It doesn’t make sense at any level.”

It comes as police investigate a wave of anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne’s southeast.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said the incident was “chilling” and act of “vicious harassment” towards the Jewish community.

“Such sickening words of hate and intimidation are dangerous, especially during this atmosphere in which anti-Semitism is at an all-time high is a terrifying reality that has crept into our daily lives,” he said.