If you’ve walked past the iconic “it’s like a jungle sometimes” mural in Newtown lately you might have noticed something different about it. Like the fact that it’s not there anymore.
The Melbourne ad agency that painted over the iconic “it’s like a jungle sometimes” mural in Newtown is copping some serious backlash.
Recently, a Melbourne ad agency Apparition Media has been suffering some serious backlash after painting over the mural with a towering advertisement for the new Darren Aronofsky film mother!.
As well widespread community outcry, it has come to light that the agency didn’t seek council approval for ad. “[We], like many members of the public, was very disappointed to see the iconic ‘it’s a jungle sometimes’ artwork painted over and this matter is being investigated by Council’s Compliance Section,” an Inner West Council spokesperson told Pedestrian.
The agency has since apologised for “its ignorance”, posting on Facebook: “Hey Newtowners, let’s just start by saying we’re sorry to you all and you’ve been heard loud and clear.”
They also said they’d had been in touch with the original mural’s artist, Colin Bebe, and discussed the history of the mural and what it represents, and about restoring the original artwork in the coming weeks.
However, it isn’t just Newtowners who are pissed. Street artists around Australia have also started calling out the agency for pulling similar stunts.
Sydney-based artist, Scottie Marsh, who you might know from his brilliant mural of Kanye kissing Kanye, took to his Instagram to say:
“I was glad to see Apparition Media put on blast today for painting over Colin Bebe’s iconic “Its like a jungle sometimes ” Mural in Newtown.
This agency has a history of circumventing artists, paying property owners to paint ads over public murals. Culture vultures feeding off the fad of street art and graffiti culture while shitting on the people who created it. If they are painting your advertisements your tarred with the same brush. All your ads deserve a good dose of chrome and black.”
Elliot Routledge, aka funskull, also took to Instagram to call out Apparition Media for turning a public mural wall into a space for commercial advertising:
“I was told by the owner of Apparition Media they had gained permission to paint an ad over this wall, as a one time only thing. Needless to say that was not the case and they created an agreement with the owner to turn this public mural wall into a rotating billboard.
“This seems to be happening more and more these days, and companies like this need to be called out by councils. Or at least these companies need to find their own blank walls… I would also urge any home owners to steer clear of these dodgy dealings and think about the bigger picture. Do we really want our neighbourhoods plastered with more ads, or free public art? I know where I stand.”
Brisbane artist drapla also took to Instagram to tell a similar story where a mural created by him and two other artists was “painted over with gaming advertising within a week.”
Speaking with Pedestrian, a spokesperson for Apparition Media said they have “no intention of painting over walls with existing murals”.
“We approached funskull before painting the wall and he gave us permission to paint over it,” the spokesperson said.
“In regards to the Brisbane mural, we didn’t paint over any mural. It was a plain white wall. The landlord had that mural painted over months before we even approached them about it.”
Hmmm.
[via Pedestrian]
