Government defends decision to remove 'graffiti'

15 hours ago

Gemma DaubeneyJersey

The government has called the painted flowers on public toilets in St Brelade "unauthorised graffiti"

BBC/Maureen Cross Close-up of two painted walls by public toilets side by side. The left door is labelled “Gents Hommes” and decorated with large blue flowers; the right door is labelled “Ladies Dames” and decorated with large yellow flowers. The artwork is painted directly onto the wall. — The government has called the painted flowers on public toilets in St Brelade "unauthorised graffiti"

The government of Jersey has defended a decision to remove painted flowers from a public toilet in St Brelade, calling the artwork "unauthorised graffiti".

The BBC understands the flowers on the Cotil du Grouin toilets in St Brelade's Bay were painted by a UK-based graffiti artist known as Master Skosh while he was in Jersey earlier this month to complete a private commission.

Jersey's infrastructure and environment department said it painted over the artwork because it did not have "prior permission or authorisation".

It has now invited the artist to reach out to potentially work together in future. The BBC has contacted Master Skosh for comment.

Infrastructure officials have repainted the walls on the public toilet

Front view of a public toilet building with a stone central wall, cream side walls, and a dark wooden pitched roof. Small rectangular windows run beneath the roofline. Blue signs on either side indicate “Gents Hommes” and “Ladies Dames,” with a central sign reading “Côtíl du Grouin Toilets.” — Infrastructure officials have repainted the walls on the public toilet

In a statement, the infrastructure department said: "As part of our responsibility for managing and maintaining public assets, any unauthorised graffiti is routinely removed, regardless of its content or intent.

"We fully support public art and community-led initiatives when they are progressed through the correct approvals process."

The decision to remove the artwork has been criticised by some people on social media.

Public artist Ben Robertson - known as bokraworld - said there have to be regulations around graffiti

An adult stands in front of a large outdoor mural featuring a cyclist riding along railway tracks, a steam train, and dark birds flying overhead. Public toilet signs in blue and white are mounted on the mural wall behind the person. — Public artist Ben Robertson - known as bokraworld - said there have to be regulations around graffiti

Jersey artist Ben Robertson, known as bokraworld, has previously worked with the government to paint a mural on a public toilet, including a display near Corbiere Lighthouse.

He said he "totally agrees" with public art but "it has to go through processes".

He said: "We're in a system where you have to have rules and regulations you know or else it could be anything.

"Because it was a flower doesn't mean it's acceptable or any different to a tag or a name, this art's subjective right, or beauty's subjective, and I don't think it's acceptable just because it's a flower."

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Robertson said the fundamental difference between graffiti and public art was whether the artist had permission.

"It's not that I'm against graffiti, you can't stop people expressing themselves, but Jersey's never had any type of graffiti scene - it's too small you know it's not like somewhere, a big city that has millions of people, loads of space."

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