Melbourne advertising agency Apparition Media has inner-city Newtown (Sydney) residents up in arms after it painted over one of the neighbourhood’s iconic murals for a promotional ad for the upcoming movie Mother!
Aussie news-sheet B&T reports that agency contractors destroyed the popular It’s Like a Jungle Sometimes artwork that appears on a heritage-listed building, when they accidentally painted it over for the promotion.
Apparently, Apparition Media never sought permission for its Mother! ad and it is now being investigated by the local council. However, what punishments it would incur are unclear.
Embarrassed agency to pay for re-paint
Even Mother!’s director, Darren Aronofsky, has weighed-in from the States, posting his apologies to social media: “Just read of ad agency in Sydney breaking #1 graffiti rule,” he posted.
“I’m embarrassed and furious. Apologies to [original artist Colin] Bebe and I’ll pay to replace piece.”
Apparition has also gone into damage control, posting an apology to its Facebook page: “Hey Newtowners,” the agency wrote, “Let’s just start by saying we’re sorry to you all and you’ve been heard loud and clear.
“We have expressed our regret for painting over it and apologised for our ignorance. We are going to work together to restore the original mural in the coming weeks.”
Finish the mural?
The agency is now awaiting locals’ reaction to a request to finish the mural now all the damage had been done.
Aronofsky says the agency has contacted Colin Bebe and will pay him to re-paint the original once its movie promotion has run its course.
- Read the B&T story here
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