In Melbourne, an artist paints a mural depicting a Ukrainian soldier hugging a Russian and is criticized for having “no idea” of the conflict.
Melbourne artist criticized for ‘offensive’ painting depicting Russian and Ukrainian soldiers
Soldiers are seen in close embrace with the artist Peter Seaton, who is promoting peace.
Peace before Pieces was presented on Kings Way in the city’s south. The Ukrainian art organization informed the artist that the installation would be upsetting.
A Melbourne street artist has been criticized for a ‘grossly disrespectful’ mural depicting a Russian and Ukrainian soldier embracing.
Last week, the contentious piece ‘Peace before Pieces’ by artist Peter ‘CTO’ Seaton was unveiled in the city’s south and instantly gained notice.
The artwork, according to the Ukrainian community, trivializes the horror of the Russian invasion of their country.
A Melbourne street artist has been criticized for a ‘grossly disrespectful’ mural depicting a Russian and Ukrainian soldier embracing (pictured)
After Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myrosnychenko, denounced the artwork, outraged social media users joined the pile-on on Twitter (pictured)
After Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myrosnychenko, denounced the artwork, outraged social media users flocked to Twitter to join the pile-on.
On Saturday night, the ambassador tweeted that a freshly unveiled painting depicting a Russian and Ukrainian soldier cuddling is repugnant to all Ukrainians.
It is regrettable that the painter had no knowledge of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and did not consult the Ukrainian population in Melbourne.
Mr. Myroshnychenko stated that the artwork generated a “false sense of equivalence between the victim and the offender” and requested that it be removed immediately.
Mr. Seaton released a video to Instagram on Sunday in which he apologized to the Ukrainian people and stated that he had intended to promote peace.
Art 4 Ukraine Australia stated in a statement that it had told the artist during consultations that Ukrainians would find the artwork objectionable.
The group stated that Mr. Seaton proceeded with the artwork despite their’reasonable requests’ and demanded on Sunday that he remove the Russian and Ukrainian flags and instead “depict an image supporting peace worldwide.”
The artist responded that he had initially received great reaction, but that he had been cautioned that the artwork could be interpreted adversely over time.
He stated, “I have to support a message of peace because that’s what I’m all about.”
On Sunday, Mr. Seaton posted an Instagram video in which he apologized to the Ukrainian people and stated that he had intended to promote peace.
He thanked people for their ‘interest’ in his art and explained that he had been attempting to convey the notion that humans are fundamentally a single, unified entity.
“This study is not intended to justify the Russians’ aggressiveness and their heinous crimes against humanity,” he stated.
He stated that it distressed him on a “deep, spiritual level” that war had been the solution to the problem between Ukraine and Russia and that it had no place in 2022.
He stated, “I am not linked with any Russian people, media, or anything else.”
Mr. Seaton (shown) is selling twelve NFTs (non-fungible tokens) of the artwork depicting a bomb exploding and a mushroom cloud.
“I’m just a person who may have some wacky, idealized, spiritual notions about the connectedness of humans and the fact that we’re all one.”
If you want to despise me for it, go ahead and do so, but I shall die on my grave steadfastly adhering to that ideal.
Mr. Seaton is selling 12 NFTs (non-fungible token tokens) of the artwork depicting troops hugging, while the internet version is bombed and engulfed by a mushroom cloud.
The artworks, which incorporate sounds from a U.S. nuclear bomb test, are available for 0.08 Ethereum, or around $124.
He stated that the artwork was originally intended to be painted over when the twelve NFTs were sold and the earnings were to be donated to World Beyond War.
However, social media users have demanded that the painting be removed immediately.
One remarked, “You could have done art to demonstrate peace in virtually any other way, but you chose to do something that offends millions.”
“This is extremely shocking. Disgraceful. Unbelievable,’ exclaimed a second.
“Just looking at this makes me feel queasy.” This is extraordinarily offensive. Wake up, Australia!’ tweeted a third user.
The artwork was reworked by the Chinese-Australian artist Badiucao to portray the Russian soldier ‘backstabbing’ the Ukrainian soldier with a bloody knife.
He added, “Here, I rectify the insulting and terrible mural in Melbourne with the genuine face of Russia’s brutality and war crimes from its invasion in Ukraine.”