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A new painting over a graffitied fortification at Westmount has sparked debate as to whether art should be allowed on Occupation-era structures.
While some praised Louise London's painting of Elizabeth Castle on part of Batterie Endrass as “wonderful” and “brilliant”, others such as the Channel Islands Occupation Society have expressed their disapproval.
Ms London created the work to replace a piece of tag graffiti that had previously been on the face of the observation post, which overlooks St. Helier and the Castle itself from the top of Westmount.
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Video: The painting covered up a piece of tag graffiti on the fortification.
It follows Ms. London’s recent work bringing colour and animal life to the Market, and her 2019 collaboration which transformed the walls of Beresford Fish Market.
While the eye-catching Elizabeth Castle mural was actually painted in April, it started generating debate this week, when someone posted about it on Facebook page, 'Unseen Jersey'.
Many commenters praised the new picture, with one saying they would “love to see more bunkers used for art”, which could “easily be used as a way to illustrate the history of the place.”
Another Facebooker also commended the initiative of painting over the tag graffiti on there, saying they “much prefer this to mindless tagging”, and another stating how they thought it was a “brilliant cover-up” of the graffiti.
Pictured: The painting was first put up in April, but was brought to the attention of local Facebook group 'Unseen Jersey' this week.
However, alongside this praise, some comments were less enthusiastic, and asked that art not be put on “our local history.”
Among them was Tony Pike, Secretary of the Channel Islands Occupation Society, a group of local history enthusiasts who work to maintain and protect the historic structures.
Mr Pike told Express that the Society doesn't "like to see fortifications used as a canvas art”.
While he said Ms London's painting was “admittedly a nice artwork”, Mr Pike said that, had the structure been under the Society’s care, he “would be there scrubbing it off, which I have done on numerous occasions in the past".
He added: “People say to me, ‘It’s better than mindless graffiti art’, which it is – but two wrongs don’t make a right. These are fortifications and they’re not there be spoiled in this way.”
He added that he hoped planning permission would have been sought before the mural was added.
Express contacted Ms London, but she did not wish to comment on the matter.
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