A controversial festive mural which was fitted above riverside cafes in south west London has been ripped down after shoppers branded it as ‘bonkers’.
The AI mural, printed on a giant PVC sheet, appeared to show a Christmas scene with Santa and animals enjoying the warm glow of the season of goodwill.
However on closer inspection the animals were disfigured and the display seemed more dystopian than celebratory.
The massive mural, which appeared above the Côte Brasserie restaurant and others on Riverside Walk, Kingston, was taken down at 6am on Thursday following dozens of complaints.
Among the surreal images depicted a dog with a bird’s head wading through partially frozen water and a snowman with human eyes and teeth is also depicted on the spine-chilling mural.
The manager at Côte told Metro: ‘It has been taken down. There were a lot of complaints and it’s been a big talking point. It was the landlord of the building who put it up nothing to do with the restaurant.
(Credits: Rob Todd for Daily Mail)
‘They put an AI generated mural up in the summer as well with distorted seafood which also was controversial. Everyone has their own ideas I guess. There have been lots of shoppers stopping to see it but there has been a lot of complaints.’
Kelly Sherlock, 28, said: ‘It was an eyesore – it was bonkers really. Everyone was going down to have a look so it was eye-catching, but in the wrong way.’
Cameron Tomlin, 37, a designer, said: ‘The mural was awful it was like some nightmarish scene. Not very Christmassy at all. It was more like a horror film scene. AI has not worked very well here unless it was done on purpose as a publicity stunt.’
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The mural had attracted crowds bewildered by the bizarre scenes depicted with one critic likening the scene to an image of ‘carnage’
Prakash Patel, a teacher, said: ‘I passed it a few times it was up for a while. I didn’t notice that it was strange at first but then people started to gather. It became a kind of landmark. But not in a good way. It was horrible, like a scene from hell.’
The also mural triggered a wave of criticism online.
One Kingston resident likened the mural to witnessing ‘scenes of Lovecraftian horror,’ adding ‘what in the AI is going on here and just how did this carnage get approved?’
Another viewer pointedly wrote: ‘So they didn’t even look at it once before printing it.’
‘So, how many glaring errors can you spot in the Christmas mural?’
Shoppers are now asking themselves what may come next to replace the much maligned mural.
Tina Sangster, who was out Christmas shopping said: ‘We are now literally watching that space. Who knows what will come next – AI has a lot to answer for.’
A spokesperson for Kingston Council said on Wednesday it had nothing to do with the mural.
It added: ‘The landowner has confirmed it will be removing the installation.’
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