A massive mural created by AI which appeared on the side of a pub in Banksy‘s home city of Bristol has been ripped apart, after locals pointed out several glaring errors in the ‘artwork’.
The huge AI vinyl poster, which appeared on the side of the Jolly Colliers pub in Bedminster, destroyed art – before mankind – through its dodgy recreations of the city’s iconic landmarks.
Among the landmarks it butchered were SS Great Britain, which looked more like a riverboat, Clifton Suspension Bridge with an incorrect one-way traffic system, and a mysterious large viaduct bridge which does not exist.
An incorrect version of Cabot Tower was also included, while the series of colourful houses depicted on the west side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge are actually located on the other side of the city in Cliftonwood, overlooking Bristol harbour.
The mural even included an apparent reference to Bristolian artist Banksy’s Mild Mild West. But the AI poster showed a one-legged figure pointing – instead of Banksy’s famous petrol bomb-throwing teddy bear.
Locals were in uproar and took matters into their own hands – by apparently tearing down the image.
Photographs later showed that the AI mural had been unceremoniously ripped down from the side wall of the Jolly Colliers pub.
It had sparked strong backlash from the art community in the city where famous street artist Banksy was born.
Pictured: The AI-generated mural stuck onto the side of a pub in Bedminster which had a city in uproar
Days later, the vinyl poster had been ripped down from the Jolly Colliers pub
The British graffitist, who is known for his distinctive stencilled spray paintings, has become internationally renowned since his career began in the 1990s.
His works, which often comment on the state of British politics, have sold for tens of millions of pounds over the years and seen him dubbed an icon in the art world.
He has always worked under a pseudonym, amid various guesses about who he really is – including Robert Del Naja, a member of the band Massive Attack.
But The Mail on Sunday revealed in 2008 the artist was in fact a man named Robin Gunningham, who was born in Bristol in 1973.
The image appeared to have been converted into a large vinyl before being pasted onto the building.
With Bristol’s international reputation for street art and its connection to celebrated artists like Banksy, the AI mural turned some heads.
Caroline Maggs from the Bristol Mural Collective (BMC) told Bristol 24/7: ‘AI designs not only devalue but undermine the work of artists’.
She added that the collective was ‘saddened and angered by the Jolly Colliers not choosing to support handmade work’, and said: ‘We are small businesses, and as a small business themselves, they should have chosen better.
Banksy’s real The Mild Mild West mural depicts a bear throwing a bomb
The grand real-life SS Great Britain that was depicted in less glorious form in the AI mural
The artist ‘Banksy’ was revealed in 2008 by The Mail on Sunday to in fact be a man named Robin Gunningham (pictured), who was born in Bristol in 1973. He has since changed his name to David Jones
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‘In a climate where humans are being replaced by AI at an alarming rate, choosing art like this is not only an aesthetic choice but a political one.’
Ms Maggs said that having no mural on the pub would have been a better choice than the AI art.
She added that the collective was open to discussions with the Jolly Colliers and would like to commission someone from the collective to ‘rectify their mistake’.
On Tuesday, a letter from an unknown artist condemning the AI art had been placed below the mural, but it was swiftly removed.
The letter called the decision to erect the mural ‘a disrespectful affront to this city’.
It wrote: ‘I am not alone in this opinion. Your decisions have angered a large portion of the very community you supposedly wish to support and exist alongside.’
While it was not signed by anybody, the writer acknowledged Bristol’s reputation for creativity and hosting Upfest, Europe’s largest street art festival.
The letter said: ‘Hundreds of murals exist across the city, created by truly talented individuals, with passion, hard-earned skill and dedication.
‘By choosing to ‘create’ (though that word gives more credit than is due) an AI generated image, produce it in vinyl and stick it to the side of your building, you are actively damaging the livelihoods of artists, disrespecting and contributing to the theft of their work, and making a mockery of what makes Bristol the city it is.
‘You have watered down the spirit, the originality and the very essence of the visual aesthetic you have tried, and failed, to recreate.’
Emily Tuffen, also an artist from BMC, said the mural was a ‘slap in the face’ to Bristol, adding that ‘Brunel would be turning in his grave’ over the piece.
Ms Tuffen said the mural was a ‘very large, very public display of something that is fast becoming a very clear and real threat to the existence of humanity’.
Several other artists from the BMC also criticised the artwork. Nina Raines called the work ‘visually naff,’ while Fiona Finn Teo described it as ‘an appalling and tone-deaf display of absolute nonchalance and disregard to artists residing in Bristol and beyond’.
Tuffen added: ‘The mural is like a giant green light telling all of south Bristol (and anyone who views it online) – AI is fine, let’s jump in feet first!
‘Tally ho! I don’t think it will last long, one way or the other. Bristol won’t stand for it.
‘On a personal level, I would be so happy if someone circled all the mistakes in red paint like a teacher or a spot the difference puzzle. That would make it actually a good street art piece and a clear statement.
‘Bristol loves authentic creativity and won’t stand for intellectual property theft! It wouldn’t cost the proprietors too much if they wanted THAT commissioned!’
A spokesperson from Punch, who own the Bedminster pub, said the mural had been a ‘temporary measure due to the condition of the external wall’ and that they were looking forward to collaborating with local artists and the community in the near future for a permanent mural.
In a statement, the spokesperson added: ‘The external wall requires some minor works which would make a permanent mural at this time difficult, so we had opted for a temporary solution.’
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