I am pleased the London Borough of Ealing is encouraging street art in Northfield Parade.
The Café in Cambourne Avenue has a wonderful US graffiti style mural - its street wall.
Kingsdown Methodist Church has a delightful wall mural depicting the life of Jesus. The latest street mural to adorn Northfields is at the corner of Mayfield Avenue, and I'm chuffed to say I met the artist and praised his talent.
I enthused about the Father Christmas theme and commented that I wouldn't like the Santa depicted to go down my chimney. Much to the amusement of the artist.
I walked away feeling pleased that the Bohemian feel was getting back to Northfield's surfacing in coffee bars and in the street art. However, the depiction of Santa in the mural alienated me, I dread to think what kids would feel.
Their image of Santa irrecoverably tainted, the Santa in the mural was nothing but a randy old man, brandishing his paunch, eyes glistening with lust, leering at a nubile teen, both of them clad in a costumes that you would assume had shrunk in the wash.
Is this an image that was generated by the young artist? Who knows?
I doubt that the London Borough of Ealing would have okayed the portrayal, unless it has invested in Artemis stocks and shares.
Go and see it. Please, London Borough of Ealing, just get him to come back and put traditional clothing on Santa and get the lady into less sleazy gear. Keep it real.
EILEEN
Ealing
