Advertising covering Brixton’s Bowie mural removed after outcry

The Brixton community were shocked when the David Bowie mural on the side of Morley’s was covered up with advertising today.

However, after an outcry on Twitter, ProperCorn removed the section covering the artwork by street artist Jimmy C hours later.

The popcorn company said they had permission from the artist and that they are also paying for its restoration.

ProperCorn later tweeted the move “was a bad call” and that they “have learnt a lot today”.

On Twitter Alan Trotter said “always best not to wallpaper over public art with advertising I think” and in another tweet Vanessa Furey pointed out that part of the reason for the anger in the community was that “we keep losing bits of Brixton to clean shiny new developments”.

A Propercorn spokesperson said: “Before the installation was erected in Brixton we worked closely with Jimmy C, the mural artist, and Lambeth Council.

“The David Bowie mural has needed restoration work and we wanted to pay for this once our installation was taken down at the end of July, to help to improve this much-loved street art.

“Our popcorn street art installation has always been intended for the community and they have spoken loudly that they don’t want the Bowie mural covered, so we have listened. We will still be funding the restoration, as planned.”