Known as the street art capital of Australia, Melbourne’s CBD laneways are lined with colourful murals, patterns and portraits.
But the writing is on the wall for a creation by award-winning artist Vincent Fantauzzo.
The British-born painter and sculptor, who is married to actor Asher Keddie, last week adorned the tarmac in Strachan Lane with a mind-bending black-and-white chequed pattern in the style of Alice in Wonderland.
“It was a work in progress,” he wrote on Instagram this morning. “Now Melbourne City Council want it painted over.”
According to The Herald Sun, City of Melbourne has instructed an unidentified adjacent business to remove the artwork within the next few days, as regulations do not permit the painting of public roads.
Fantauzzo, who is a part-owner of Strachan Lane restaurant Harley House, has been met with support from followers, dozens of whom left messages of support on his Instagram post.
"Looks fantastic! What is the matter with Melbourne City Council?" wrote one. "It's so awesome, a great attraction!"
"Oh come on @lordmayormelb let it stay!" wrote another. "It looks amazing."
Fantauzzo is a a four-time winner of the Archibald Prize People's Choice award.
His first was won in 2008 for a painting of Heath Ledger, captured just weeks before the actor's death. This was followed in 2009 by his depiction of child actor Brandon Walters, then Asher Keddie in 2013 and his son, Luca, in 2014.
Mamamia approached Melbourne City Council for comment, but did not hear back by time of publishing.
Top Comments
Any City Council that has problems with this highly imaginative work of art really needs to take a long hard look at itself. Here comes an artist who works his imagination to produce this piece of pure magic. Reminiscent of the graphic art of Escher it challenges you to look away ....and hey guess what, you don't even have to pay for looking at it. We should embrace Vincent and provide every incentive to him to work his aesthetic wherever he sees fit. It's this sort of expression that constitutes contemporary heritage. So what's the problem City Council - can't find a way to tax it!! Is art only acceptable if it receives establishment approval and hung in galleries? Councillors, you really really need to loosen up and wake up to the few good things in an otherwise desperate world.
While the artwork looks pretty darn awesome, it looks to me like the laneway is accessible for vehicles, and for some people the pattern could be disorienting while driving on it and could cause injury. Hate to be a party pooper.