On Art and Censorship

Renowned graffiti artist, MTO painted this mural recently in Sarasota, Florida. The mural which is done only with spray paint is located in an area of town that suffers from high crime rates and rampant drug use. Compared to the rest of Sarasota, which is affluent, rich, and white, this area of town is often sneered at and dismissively referred to. As soon as the mural was completed the public cried out against its use of gang imagery.

According to a recent TV report, the model for the hands and the tattoos is a surfer from California living in Sarasota. 'Fast Life', he stated on the report, has nothing to do with gangs. Critics of the piece are stating that it is exactly that phrase, as well as the position of the fingers (the inspiration stated that the hands and fingers are positioned that way for aesthetic purposes) is offensive to the area and it's residents.

I'm not sure which section of Sarasota, which neighborhood, or which tax bracket has the loudest voice in opposing the piece. To me, I think the majority of the problem is because people simply hate having an issue that they would rather forget shoved in their face.

And what better way to shove an issue in your face than a huge mural?

Which is why the mural was scheduled to be painted over.

I took these shots on the day of the paint over but luckily the mural was saved last minute. The owner of the Tube Dude business, where the mural is located, said he would wait for one month to assess public opinion on the mural. If opinion is still negative after that time the piece is getting painted over.

Myself,  I love the mural. I think it's a fantastic piece of art expertly done. It's striking and powerful, and as all good art ought to do, inspire debate.