Hoarding artist strikes again

The artist behind the airbrushing of Labour's Tauranga candidate Rachael Jones and NZ First leader Winston Peters' hoardings has struck again.

This time Tauranga MP Simon Bridges and National leader John Key are the victims - madeover to depict the politicians as Batman and Robin.


National leader John Key and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges are the latest targets of the artist. This billboard is situated on Waihi Rd.

So is it art, or is it vandalism?

Speaking exclusively to SunLive, the artist behind the ‘improved' billboards, who is maintaining anonymity for now, says 'It's both”.

'It's fair enough, in the end it is vandalism and this is the first time I have done illegal artwork.

'But I was sick of seeing the poor ways it was being done. Five-year-olds can draw Hitler moustaches.”

This morning Simon, after seeing his sign, says he doesn't normally condone graffiti but he has to give "credit where credit's due".

'That billboard is brilliant. It's aesthetically probably an improvement on what was there.

'If John Key's Batman I'm very happy to play his Boy Wonder because I think he's done a great job leading New Zealand.”

Simon is in Taranaki today fulfilling his obligations as Energy and Resource minister and will be meeting with the PM later today.

He is certain that John key will appreciate the hoarding in the spirit that was intended.

Simon says in all seriousness, graffiti and vandalism are destructive and completely unacceptable.

'But this here is actually in the category of modern art.”

Earlier this week SunLive spoke with Rachel who said her hoarding, giving her metallic nails and rock star hair, was 'a pretty cool sign”.

But Winston was unimpressed with the 'criminal” act to his hoarding – depicting him at the Mad Hatter - claiming the artist as 'a looney tune”.

The artist admits Winston's comments have annoyed him because the NZ First leader's billboard was created with the most respect.

He specifically chose Winston because, he assumed, he would be the only one to get a good laugh out of it.

'I was quite respectful to how I airbrushed his billboard, I could have done something really crude but I chose to be polite about it.”

He has no political affiliation, or interest for that matter, he says.

The artist says these billboards were not meant to be a political statement but a way to indulge his passion for creating art.

He also believes the billboards have helped to take some of the tension out of the election by adding a little humour.

While he does not follow politics himself, he's noticed how the election has affected people.

'I know politics is serious, but at the moment it's just seriously bulls***. Everyone bickering, saying stuff like ‘Are you National or are you Labour?'

'It's exactly like guys out there saying ‘Are you Black Power or Mongrel Mob?' and what's it achieving?”

The billboards were painted over using a technique called airbrushing, which involves using an air-operated tool to spray paint onto surfaces.

It takes a lot of effort and is a costly technique in terms of time and money, the artist says.

These pieces involve finding a billboard, kidnapping it, airbrushing it, then returning it to the original site – all while avoiding CCTV, security guards and the police.

'The thing is, you can go over it with thinners and it'll all rub off. It's easy to remove.

'I could have prepped it and clear coated it and they wouldn't be able to do anything. It was a conscious decision,” he says.

While Simon and the Prime Minster are his latest targets, the artist says he is eyeing up Kim Dot Com.

Winston Peters depicted as the Mad Hatter.

Labour Tauranga candidate Rachael Jones with her newly altered election hoarding. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

You may also like....

30 comments

Fantastic

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:10 | By bayer

Congratulations to the very talented artist who braved prosecution to provide us with some quality comic relief from a typically stodgy muck flinging election campaign. Im looking forward to DOTCOMs "makeover".


I think it's clever

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:13 | By Annalist

But I realise that some candidates will see it as vandalism of their billboards. To me, it does add harmless fun to the campaign and is probably an improvement on the original boards.


Stunning

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:26 | By How about this view!

Looks a bit O.D. If the candidates don't want them I will gladly find room for them. I can tell all of you Art gallery supporters that there is more TALENT on display with these billboards than is on display downtown in the gallery.


Do it, do it

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:40 | By nerak

do it again, please! How lucky to have such talent. I volunteer to be a lookout for you. Looking forward to the next brilliant ray of sunshine in an otherwise distinctly putrid campaign.


Brilliant

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:44 | By Murray.Guy

Just brilliant. Should be a nation wide competition. As Simon says, 'is an improvement' on the original. Keep it, sell it as a fundraiser for the 'Childrens Ward' at the hospital.


Brilliant

Posted on 05-09-2014 09:57 | By ow

Keep it up owen ! I will be a lookout as well


Well Done

Posted on 05-09-2014 11:04 | By DAD

Very talented artist and it puts a bright side on politics


Kim Dot Clown

Posted on 05-09-2014 11:16 | By Dave 65

Please , please do him as Humpty Dumpty. He has the attributes and hopefully.......


wow awesome

Posted on 05-09-2014 13:44 | By rotovend

they should be sold off to raise money for charity they are amazing


I think it is...

Posted on 05-09-2014 13:56 | By GreertonBoy

done with the heart in the right place... I hate the usual graffiti of unrecognisable doodling on every flat surface...however, this is far beyond graffiti tagging, it really is more art, and very well done art to boot. I am glad the 'unwilling subjects' can see the humour, well, most of them... Imagine how well he could do the art work in a studio with time and proper lighting. I hope they don't ruin it, it/they should be auctioned for charity in my opinion. Dot com would be better as big bird maybe? Cookie monster?


Amazing!

Posted on 05-09-2014 13:59 | By sojourner

Love them! So well done, and so creative. I particularly like the Mad Hatter hahaha!


Love it

Posted on 05-09-2014 14:43 | By maccachic

Personally I think the original billboards are grafiting our town. I have a horse float that needs a jus up - keen??


Awesome!

Posted on 05-09-2014 15:12 | By tintintom

I love all the billboards the artist has done! Lol, they are even better than some of the originals!


Yawn

Posted on 05-09-2014 15:19 | By Toomanylemmings

The artist of these works is currently comparing himself to Banksy while his friends praise and encourage his 'Am I Banksy' game. Banksy's works are clever,original and a thought provoking commentary on society,whereas this guy paints straight reproductions of pop figures,icons and celebrities that say little. Much like OD, yes he has a natural ability and skill, I just wish they'd use them as a voice to actually say something slightly original with their work. I'm sure I'm not the only creator of art shaking my head in dismay at what is perceived as 'clever' and 'modern art' in Tauranga.


Can see them now

Posted on 05-09-2014 16:24 | By lpm67

I must admit that I have become blind to most hoardings over the last couple of elections...until I saw these. Now I actually notice them and have a good chuckle as well. I think it reflects on the characteur of the politicians as to how they handle it. I know it was an illegal act and that the parties have paid good money for their signage and placement, but these are great. May I suggest a charity that is helping children??? Kidz Need Dadz have a refuge for men that often has children staying as well, selling these for charity would be an amazing thing for these pollys to do.


Rastus

Posted on 05-09-2014 16:40 | By rastus

Its my observation that people like Toomanylemmings critizcize brilliant work like this because of it's reality and because they do not have that same ability - that's where modern art came from, those who could not reallty reproduce the beauty of nature and man(IMHO) so paint any old crap and call it art - you may fool yourself but there are plenty of us out here that recognise good art when we see it!


Fabulous

Posted on 05-09-2014 17:11 | By annonymous1

This definitely isn't ODs work he tends to stick to original stuff..whoever did this has extraordinary creative flare! Keep up the brilliant art work


Rastus

Posted on 05-09-2014 17:17 | By Toomanylemmings

You're entitled to think what you want about my artistic abilities based on zero information-that's the beauty of an opinion. Based on the fact you class this work as 'brilliant' I suspect you yourself aren't too competent with a paintbrush? If you were you'd probably know that Artists who have the technical ability to reproduce a recognisable image are a dime a dozen.


Brilliant!!!

Posted on 05-09-2014 20:31 | By vonnie

one word says it all!! hope some one has has notified the TV stations...only the BOP could come up with this type of art!!


art !

Posted on 06-09-2014 00:28 | By ow

go back to your art gallery Toomanylemmings -the rest of us like this artwork - and it didn't cost us ratepayers a cent !


A challenge

Posted on 06-09-2014 00:34 | By ow

A challenge to Toomanylemmings. Show the rest of us what you think should be done and let the people decide who is the artist


art or not

Posted on 06-09-2014 11:42 | By saywhatyouwant

this definitely doesnt look like ODs work Tauranga is so fixated on whats art and whats not we are losing the whole meaning of art, this person is having fun and being noticed. anyone who compares them self to banksy however always gives me a little chuckle!


Why

Posted on 06-09-2014 23:17 | By Bop man

Are they called hoardings, please tell me, and I would love to see the scary Colin Craig "hoarding" done.


Totally false advertising

Posted on 07-09-2014 12:09 | By TheCameltoeKid

Perhaps a complaint should be made to the police about the CLEAR and OUTRIGHT piece of BLATANT false advertising involved in the Labour candidate's billboard! Spot on in Winston's case though aye. What a chuckle.


Overit

Posted on 07-09-2014 18:46 | By overit

Do these billboards help make people decide who to vote for? They make no difference to me, they are just an eye-sore, undoctored. People look at policies don't they?


Get over yourselves

Posted on 08-09-2014 16:37 | By Dino

At least someone has got a sense of humour - its far better than all the "dirty politics" that has over-shadowed the whole election. Maybe it will bring back to peoples attention the fact the we need to be voting on policy's not people. Anywhere where is the harm in someone making these horrible billboards that assault our beautiful city, a little more palatable and fun. I say go you - whoever you are and well done - keep up the good work - it is wat it is :-)


Banksy ?

Posted on 10-09-2014 09:11 | By ow

Who is Banksy ?


Smile

Posted on 10-09-2014 12:55 | By Raewyn

I have realy enjoyed seeing these billboards' that is however till the nasties smashed them down!


jmac

Posted on 11-09-2014 16:57 | By JohnMac

Way better than Dot cons poor attempt at fame. Go for it a bit of clever wit will do us all good.


next candidate

Posted on 17-09-2014 16:32 | By Maria M

billboard artist is getting more votes than the political parties lol


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.