A mural of Peter Kay has been covered up and defaced just days after it was completed. The mural of the much-loved Bolton comedian appeared on the Fallowfield Loop, underneath the A6 Stockport Road in Levenshulme, earlier this week.
The artist behind it is called Manchester Murals, aka Chris Moore. He said he finished the piece last Saturday after working on it for several days, and it received rave reviews from fans as word about it spread.
However, it has already been spray-painted over in what Chris says he interprets as a critique of him and his work. Peter's face has been covered with a message saying 'When you love cheap fame & money more than the culture' daubed on it.
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Chris described the move as 'petty' and said he believed whoever is responsible was 'questioning the means behind my work' but acknowledged their right to have their say.
He currently has no plans to reinstate the mural at that location but hasn't ruled out recreating it elsewhere.
It is the second of Chris' murals to recently be defaced, with his painting of fellow comic Paul O'Grady, unveiled under the Kingsway Bridge also on the Fallowfield Loop following his shock death last month aged 67, also being covered up
The mural of Paul with a dog alongside the caption 'For Paul' was replaced with a new graphic altogether, featuring an arrowed text design and a man - appearing to look a little bit like Mario - with tears rolling down his face.
After completing it, Chris said the motive behind his Peter Kay piece was to 'pay tribute to a Greater Manchester powerhouse of comedy and how incredible it is to have him grace our stages again.'
"He’s always come across as a well-grounded, proud northerner and I really admire the work he’s done for multiple charities over the many years" he added.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after learning of it being defaced, Chris, who first picked up spray cans during lockdown, said: "I think it's petty, but I acknowledge it's part of the street art scene that people can cover your work and have their say.
"But it's not about money or fame. I'm a down-to-earth guy. For me, it's about pursuing my dream of becoming a full-time artist.
"Overall I love the way people respond to my work. I enjoy sharing my work with people and appreciate the nice comments. I also appreciate, and take note of, constructive criticism.
"I have acknowledged it's part of the scene. ultimately whoever has covered it, or if it is multiple people, are questioning the means behind my work, which I categorically disagree with."
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