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Kingston Riverside Christmas Mural Taken Down After Complaints Over Grotesque Imagery

The installation was removed by the private landowner following complaints, with the council saying it had no involvement.

Overview

  • A Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames spokesperson said the council neither planned nor funded the display and confirmed the landowner removed it.
  • Local reports suggested the council asked for the takedown, but this has not been verified and the council has denied involvement.
  • Viewers and outlets noted visual anomalies typical of AI image tools, though the use of AI has not been confirmed.
  • Some interpreted scenes of people in shallow boats as commentary on migrants, while the building owners told London Centric it was a Bruegel-inspired Christmas scene and questioned the political reading.
  • London Centric attributed the work to artist Mat Collishaw, who has shown AI work at the site before, but he has not confirmed authorship.