Controversial Fitzroy mural in Melbourne attracts more than 1,000 letters to Yarra councilABC Radio MelbourneTopic:Art1h ago1 hours agoSun 11 May 2025 at 10:55pmThe mural in Fitzroy, depicting a bound and gagged woman, has courted major controversy. (Instagram)In short:The City of Yarra will fine a business after a controversial mural on its wall breached its permit laws.Mayor Stephen Jolly says although council could not police art, he had received more than 1,000 emails over the mural.The mural was painted by a Los Angeles-based artist, and has since been tagged over.abc.net.au/news/controversial-fitzroy-mural-street-art-complaints-cecil-st/105280644Link copiedShareShare articleA Melbourne council says it has received more than 1,000 emails in the past two days regarding a controversial mural showing a bound and gagged woman.A Los Angeles-based street artist known as Lauren YS painted a building near Cecil Street in Fitzroy, sparking a flurry of complaints.City of Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly said while it was not council's role to be "the art police", the mural had broken the rules."They don't have a planning permit, they'll be approached about that, they'll be dealt with in the normal way," Cr Jolly told ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast."We're going play it with a straight bat."Mural provokes overwhelming responseCr Jolly said he had received more than 1,000 emails in the last 48 hours, with many emails coming from residents around the country and special interest groups."Most of them are stock emails, just copy-and-paste emails from people, mainly not in Yarra … organised by Collective Shout which is this NGO that's against domestic violence," he said."There are a lot of people in Fitzroy that have got a different view, I respect that."In a statement on social media, Collective Shout criticised the work as a "chilling image" that "eroticised violence against women"."Responding to objections, the artist defended the mural as 'empowering' and told objectors to 'chill'," the group said."But there is nothing "empowering" or subversive about normalising or glamorising violence against women."Lauren YS painted several murals on a recent trip to Melbourne across Fitzroy and Mordialloc. (Instagram)The mural has been met with a mixed reaction from those living in Fitzroy."I definitely think it was done for the reason of stirring a bit of controversy, which is often good for art but maybe not in this way," one man told ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast."I don’t know if sexualised images in front of children’s faces is a good way of stirring controversy."But others were more supportive of the artwork."I think it’s representing a culture that a lot of people don’t know about, shibari (Japanese rope bondage) is a beautiful art-form that brings intimacy in people," another man said.Council has attempted to contact the business where the mural is located, but has been unsuccessful so far.Cr Jolly said the business would "definitely" receive a fine over the breach in permit laws.He said while it remained contentious, the issue was in the past as someone had already tagged over the mural.The ABC has contacted Lauren YS for comment.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoSun 11 May 2025 at 10:55pm, updated 28m ago28 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 11:53pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.Zelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron stand at Memorial Wall of Fallen Defenders of UkraineIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows Jim Chalmers walks into QT smiling.Nationals in Canberra to pick leader as Canavan challenges LittleproudLIVEPhoto shows Heated exchanges in the hallways of parliament house over visas for Palestinians fleeing GazaPopular nowThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.Is Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows Jim Chalmers walks into QT smiling.Related topicsArtFitzroyTop StoriesThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CareZelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerNationals in Canberra to pick leader as Canavan challenges LittleproudTopic:Government and PoliticsJust InChina accused of foreign interference in Solomon IslandsTopic:World Politics20m ago20 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 12:01amFight looms over proposed $15m retreat along iconic WA coastal trailTopic:Travel and Tourism22m ago22 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 11:59pmMelbourne council to fine business over controversial muralTopic:Art28m ago28 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 11:53pmFinancial counsellors sound alarm over private assistance feesTopic:Consumer Protection1h ago1 hours agoSun 11 May 2025 at 10:51pmMore Just InBack to top