'Street artist 'Alex' defaces his divisive Phuket mural'

Street artist Alex Face is returning to Phuket Town this weekend to destroy the artwork he created over Songkran as part of a project to celebrate the city winning international recognition.

The artwork, on the wall of the former Standard Chartered Bank building on Phang Nga Road, has become one of the hottest spots for selfie enthusiasts since it was created as part of the So Phuket Food, Art and Travel Festival.

But it was also quick to draw controversy as a group of locals thought the artist had destroyed the beauty of the local heritage site, which is now a museum. Built in 1907,it was the first bank established in Phuket and is an example of Sino-Portuguese architecture.

Patcharapon "Alex" Tangruen was one of 12 artists engaged for the festival, but the Phuket City Municipality ordered him to erase the work on April 22 -- less than a week after it was created.

The city cited the controversy and a lack of communication about the project for the decision and offered to erase the artwork. However, Alex said he wanted to erase the artwork himself.

Don Limnunthaphisit, president of the Old Phuket Town Community, told the Bangkok Post Sunday the street art was welcome as it attracted a large number of visitors to the area. However, Alex's work happened to be on the wrong wall.

"It's the right concept in the wrong location," Mr Don said. "We all genuinely think this project can boost our local economy since there are a lot more visitors than we've ever seen. But the wall of the Chartered Bank building is not the place where the street art should be."

Mr Don said local people are trying to preserve the former Standard Chartered Bank, which is now a museum dedicated to Peranakan culture, by trying to maintain the building's original condition.

"We tried to find the colour that matched the original building. We even tried to put together the tiles on the floor that match the old ones," Mr Don explained. "I am not being a dinosaur here. I do understand art and I completely support theproject. But this particular piece of Alex Face is on the wrong building and we are not happy about it."

The work itself has been popular, with people queuing up to take selfies with it. However, the municipality has ordered it be erased no later than next Sunday.

"They want to erase the painting so quickly, as if they are doing it out of spite," Mr Don said. "We don't actually mind if the painting stays there for another couple of months. After all, it has been done already and it is beautiful."

Instead of letting other people paint over his work, Alex has come up with a way of using its destruction for a future exhibition. He will dissolve the artwork with a solution and video its destruction using a stop-motion, time lapse technique. The final product will be displayed together with other works he is creating for a major exhibition towards the end of the year.

Even though his creation will be removed, Alex remains pleased with the piece and says it has already done its job.

"My work gets people to come together and exchange ideas," he said. "My work stimulates locals to think about how else they can develop their city. Also, my work becomes even more famous this way. The art has already served its purpose. For me, art brings people together and my work proved it."

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