The South African Art Times
9 June 2014

In summary:

“The Central City Improvement District (CCID) cleaners have removed part of a mural by the artist Cameron Platter that was painted on the exterior wall of the AVA Gallery in central Cape Town.”

“According to the gallery the ‘CCID anti-graffiti squad’ were apparently acting on a complaint from a member of the public.”

“The city [of Cape Town], who are in the process of creating a new arts policy document, have at times been castigated for their seemingly conservative approach to graffiti.”

“For the past decade the city of London has also been struggling to define the distinction between gang related graffiti, its harmless art focused alternative and the defiling of property.”

“According to Hackney’s website some of the reasons for the removal of graffiti are: offensive, gang related, insulting or against public interest; inappropriate for the location; a cause of complaints to the Council and any work on a listed building or in a conservation area. However, these policy guidelines have often been measured against the knowledge that works by famous graffiti artists have increased tourism to this area of the city.”

To read the full article, click HERE