Vincent Fantauzzo wants City of Melbourne to keep his streetart in Strachan Lane

NEW STREET art by an award winning artist has caught the eye of the City of Melbourne for all the wrong reasons — now the cleaners are being sent in.

THE award-winning artist behind Melbourne’s latest eye-catching street art has appealed to the city council to save his laneway creation from the cleaners.

Vincent Fantauzzo told the Herald Sun said he wanted to complete the artwork, that he would make it safe and hoped it would continue to be a feature of Melbourne’s street art scene.

The city council has said it would scrub the painted bitumen on Strachan Lane because it was not permitted and that it could pose a safety risk.

Fantauzzo, who has won four Archibald people’s choice awards, painted the Alice in Wonderland-inspired piece about 10 days ago, and has prompted another, unknown artist to paint a rabbit on the wall of the laneway.

“I’d like to finish it first. It’s just an undercoat. There’s still a lot of rendering to be done to crisp it up, he said.

“My goal as an artist is to make art accessible to people. I’d like to do for art what chefs have done for cooking.’’

Penny Pantoulis, 12, of Bentleigh dances on street art in Strachan Lane by Archibald Prize winner Vincent Fantauzzo. Picture: Josie Hayden.

Fantauzzo was not critical of the city council and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who had been supported of Melbourne’s street art scene.

“I didn’t go out to upset anyone. It’s just a laneway that doesn’t get used, except for deliveries and now hundreds of people are coming to take photos. People are travelling down into the city with their kids to see it.

“It’d be a shame to see it go.’’

The council has contacted nearby Harley House restaurant, of which Fantauzzo is a part owner, to remove it.

But council will instead send in the cleaners and ask the restaurant to pay the bill.

A cleaning team is expected in the coming days.

Vincent Fantauzzo painted his girlfriend actor Asher Keddie for the Archibald Prize and won the People’s Choice award in 2013.

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said the council had contacted Harley House management, advising that the road surface painting was not permitted and must be removed.

“Painting of road surfaces creates a safety risk as the paint may be slippery in certain conditions, and could cause vehicles to skid or people to slip over. The paint could also be highly reflective and create a visual distraction,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“Council intends to remove the painted road surface and will seek reimbursement of costs from Harley House.”

Harley House manager Jonny Cortizo said the art had brightened up the lane.

“People love it and from our perspective, it’s a great thing.,’ Mr Cortizo said.

A petition, to be delivered to Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, has been started to gather support to save the art.

@IanRoyall