``Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!`` ..... Oh Jezus, leave it on!``

Maribynog Council demands small business remove `ofensive` Hillary Clinton mural

By Brode Carmody
Friday, July 29, 2016

Maribyrnong Council has asked a small business in Footscray to take down an "offensive" mural by a renowned Australian street artist featuring US presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in a swimsuit.

The request comes after the street artist, who goes by the name Lushsux, had his Instagram account deleted after he posted a photo of the mural in question.

The artwork depicts presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in a skimpy one-piece swimsuit featuring the colours of the American flag.

Tucked into the bikini is a wad of hundred dollar bills.

The mural is located on the wall of a small business opposite Tottenham train station called Mr Mobility, which sells wheelchairs and electric scooters.

Mr Mobility's owner is currently overseas, but a friend who is minding the business while he is away – who gave her name as Mich – said someone from Maribyrnong Council came into the store this morning and said the Hillary Clinton mural had to go.

"I'm not offended by it and I'm a woman," she said.

"I think it's a beautiful picture. She's got a full bather on and the private parts are covered."

The council worker said if the mural wasn't removed, then council would do it themselves and the small business would have to foot the bill.

Mich says any cost associated with the mural's removal, or any fine that might eventuate from not taking it down, would be a blow to the small business's finances.

"We couldn't afford to pay it," she said.

"It's just ridiculous. I was a bit angry they could come and do that when we've given permission and don't find it offensive. I told him to go waste his time looking at pictures elsewhere and compare it, because to me it's no worse than others around. You see more on TV, more around town."

Mich says councils should be supporting small businesses and local artists, instead of trying to clamp down on things a few people in the community find distasteful.

"This artist is world acclaimed," she said.

"He's a top Australian graffiti artist, he's worked with Banksy, he's been all around the world. They should be proud they've got someone with such talent."

The street artist who made the Hillary Clinton mural, who goes by the name Lushsux, told Fairfax Media this is a "clear case of an out of control council".

"They seem hell bent on trying to screw over people," he said.

" [First] the parking fines mess, then telling people what they can't display on their own property. What's next?

"The mural is about on par offence-wise with a Lynx deodorant ad."

Stephen Wall, chief executive of Maribyrnong Council, confirmed council had asked the business to take down the mural.

He said council had received "a number" of complaints from residents.

"We believe it is offensive because of the depiction of a near naked woman, not on the basis of disrespect to Hillary Clinton, in accordance with the Graffiti Prevention Act 2007," he said.

"We have asked Footscray VicPol to urgently provide us their opinion on its offensiveness and we intend to issue a Notice to Remove. This will require the owner of the property to remove the mural within 10 days. We have spoken to the owner of the property who has the right to appeal the notice."

Postscript:

``God is this ever boring Hillary! How many times have I seen your thing and twin sisters? Once we`re in the White House and running the country while I`m sleeping on the couch downstairs because of my many White House dalliances ..... we need to focus more on that rotten Trump!``